Methods for the synthesis of polynucleotides and combinatorial libraries of polynucleotides

ABSTRACT

Methods for the synthesis of polynucleotides and derivatives thereof are provided. Methods for the preparation of combinatorial libraries of polynucleotides are also provided. In addition, methods for the preparation and identification of polynucleotides having a predetermined property are provided.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to methods for the synthesis of polynucleotides and derivatives thereof. The present invention also pertains to the preparation of combinatorial libraries of polynucleotides and the screening of libraries for polynucleotides having desirable properties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The field of genomics is progressing at a tremendous rate. Not only has the human genome been sequenced, but so have the genomes of over thirty microbial species and animals such as the fruitfly D. melanogaster and the worm C. elegans. Experts predict that the complete sequences of more than one hundred additional microbial species will be available in the near future (Fraser, et al., Curr. Opin. Microbiol., 2000, 3, 443). This is in addition to the millions of gene sequences already available in public databases.

[0003] Accompanying the rapid progress in genomics is a growing interest in the field of directed evolution, as well as related areas of biotechnology, which are rapidly enabling the use of biomolecules (e.g., enzymes and DNA) for a variety of applications in medicine and chemistry (Chartrain, et al., Curr. Opin. Biotechnol., 2000, 11, 209 and Marrs, et al., Curr. Opin. Microbiol., 1999, 2, 241). There are early signs that biotechnology will even make significant contributions to computation and materials science (Mao, et al., Nature, 2000, 407, 493 and Whaley, et al., Nature, 2000, 405, 626). In order for scientists to fulfill the promise of biotechnology in these diverse areas, new methods of polynucleotide (e.g., genes, DNA, RNA) synthesis and, particularly, new methods of creating populations of polynucleotides from which useful variants can be isolated, will be highly desirable. Provided with such methods, scientists will be able to use more efficiently the enormous amounts of information contained in the genomic databases.

[0004] While it is possible to isolate genes and DNA molecules from almost any single organism found in nature, a method to efficiently synthesize such molecules in the laboratory is currently unavailable due to the sheer size and complexity of genetic material. Short polynucleotides (oligonucleotides) can be readily synthesized, but the methods for their synthesis are limited to stretches of up to about 100 bases. These methods are not capable of synthesizing polynucleotides on the order of about 1000 bases, the size range of a typical gene. A method for the synthesis of such large polynucleotides is desirable since it would allow genetic research to be conducted with greater precision and rapidity. For instance, when presented with a phylogeny of DNA sequences from a genomic database, a scientist may wish to compare and/or recombine these sequences to generate a population of molecules from which a useful variant (and/or recombinant) may be isolated using an appropriate screen or selection. In order to accomplish this task, a typical laboratory would need to isolate genes from a multitude of organisms and/or maintain a large collection of thousands of genes from hundreds of organisms, both daunting feats using present technology. While there have been attempts to commercialize such services, the profitability of these enterprises has not yet been demonstrated and the costs to their customers is, in many cases, prohibitive. Thus, a rapid and efficient method for the synthesis of large polynucleotides would greatly facilitate the manipulation of large amounts of genetic material.

[0005] Several methods of de novo polynucleotide synthesis have been described. For example, U.S. Ser. No. 09/571,774 describes the solid phase synthesis of polynucleotides by sequential ligation of oligonucleotide segments. In a somewhat different synthetic strategy, U.S. Pat. No. 5,942,609 and Chen, et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 1990, 18, 871 describe polynucleotide synthesis from preassembled oligonucleotides by hybridization of complementary bridging oligonucleotides. Preassembly by hybridization is associated with several disadvantages of this method. For instance, hybridization can pose problems related to the formation of unwanted secondary structure or non-specific hybridization. Hybridization also contributes to the labor intensiveness of the synthetic method, requiring “extra” oligonucleotides to be synthesized for each joint. Other polynucleotide synthetic methods are limited to the preparation of double-stranded polynucleotides. Examples of these methods are described in Ivanov, et al., Gene, 1990, 95, 295; Stahl, et al., Biotechniques, 1993, 14, 424; Hostomsky, et al., Nucleic Acids Symp. Ser., 1987, 18, 241; Hostomsky, et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 1987, 15, 4849; Beattie, et al., Nature, 1991, 352, 742; and Stemmer, et al., Gene, 1995, 164, 49.

[0006] As is evident from the methods described above, research in polynucleotide synthesis has typically concentrated on the coupling of oligonucleotides at double-stranded regions created by hydribization of complementary oligonucleotides. It is possible, however, to join polynucleotides, or oligonucleotides, without hybridization of complementary oligonucleotides. In fact, ligation of oligonucleotides without hybridization, using T4 RNA ligase, has been described (Walker, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 1975, 72, 122 and Ohtsuka, et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 1976, 3, 1613), but was soon recognized to be problematic as a polynucleotide synthesis method due to the accumulation of unwanted byproducts (Krug, et al., Biochemistry, 1982, 21, 1858). Other characteristics of T4 RNA ligase reactions include long incubations and mediocre yields (Tessier, et al., Anal. Biochem., 1986, 158, 171). The synthesis of oligonucleotides from mononucleotide building blocks using T4 RNA ligase has recently been described (Schmitz, et al., Org. Lett., 1999, 1, 1729 and references therein) but is similarly plagued by long reaction times. Thus, the difficulties associated with this enzyme have deterred the development of single-stranded polynucleotide synthetic methods.

[0007] The enhanced ability for de novo synthesis of large polynucleotides or genes may greatly facilitate the preparation of combinatorial libraries of polynucleotides because it would be much more efficient than existing methods. For example, combinatorial libraries of genes can be made by cassette mutagenesis (Oliphant, et al., Gene, 1986, 44, 177 and Oliphant, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 1989, 86, 9094) whereby genes with random combinations of nucleotides are created. Similarly, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,723,323; 5,763,192; 5,814,476; and 5,817,483 describe libraries of expression vectors having stochastic DNA regions. By simultaneously randomly mutating fifteen nucleotides of a gene, a billion different sequences can be generated. Current methods of screening and molecular cloning often limit the number of sequences that can be screened to a much smaller number. Although there are examples of libraries with 10⁸ individual mutants (Cwirla, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 1990, 87, 6378), certain screening methods to identify useful enzymes are limited to a few thousand mutants. A process to optimize combinatorial libraries has been proposed (Arkin, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 1992, 89, 7811) and tested (Delagrave, et al., Protein Eng., 1993, 6, 327 and Delagrave, et al., Biotechnology, 1993, 11, 1548) to circumvent this problem. A related approach has also been proposed to deal with the combinatorial diversity of phylogenies of protein sequences (Goldman, et al., Biotechnology, 1992, 10, 1557). However, these methods consider only libraries having degeneracies at the nucleotide level. In some instances, such as for large sets of phylogenically related sequences, combinatorial libraries where degeneracies are at the oligonucleotide level (i.e., blocks of nucleotides), rather than at the nucleotide level, are more favorable. This difference would allow alteration of an entire sequence instead of at just a few nucleotides.

[0008] In an effort to prepare populations of polynucleotides, a method referred to as DNA shuffling has been developed. According to this method, described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,117,679 and Stemmer, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 1994, 91, 10747, a series of related polynucleotides are isolated, fragmented, and recombined to form a population of polynucleotide variants. The recombination of related polynucleotides proceeds via hybridization of complementary or partially complementary fragments. The requirement for hybridization limits this method to polynucleotides with a certain minimal amount of homology. Moreover, recombination between polynucleotides tends to occur at points of high sequence identity which are found randomly along the sequences. There is, therefore, little control of the sites of recombination during a shuffling experiment. Furthermore, DNA shuffling methods are not amenable to working with RNA. However, in certain cases it may be advantageous to work directly with RNA molecules. For example, many viral genomes consist of single strands of RNA like flaviviruses such as Dengue, Japanese Encephalitis and West Nile, retroviruses such as HIV, and other animal and plant pathogens, including viroids (Fundamental Virology, Lippincott-Raven, Phildelphia, Pa., 1996) By constructing recombinant viral genomes, valuable vaccines may be developed (Guirakhoo, et al., Virology, 1999, 257, 363 and Monath, et al., Vaccine, 1999, 17, 1868), and the availability of methods to synthesize and recombine RNA more rapidly may accelerate this type of research.

[0009] De novo gene synthesis is a powerful technique that when fully optimized would contribute greatly to the fields of biotechnology and medicine. Not only would gene synthesis facilitate the manipulation of large polynucleotides by offering better control over, for example, the position of restriction sites, optimization of regions of sequence governing gene expression, and formation of chimeras; the ability to synthetically build a gene would allow the directed and rapid formation of combinatorial gene libraries. Screening of these libraries for genes with desired properties may allow the discovery or development of new and improved biomolecules such as enzymes with increased activity or receptors with higher ligand affinity. Thus, new methods for the synthesis of polynucleotides are needed, and the present invention is directed toward this need, as well as others.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The present invention relates generally to the preparation of a polynucleotide having a target sequence from a plurality of oligonucleotides, wherein the sequences of the oligonucleotides comprise the target sequence of the polynucleotide, comprising coupling oligonucleotides of the plurality of oligonucleotides to form a plurality of coupled oligonucleotides, wherein each of the coupled oligonucleotides represents a region of the polynucleotide and shares at least one terminal region of sequence with at least one other coupled oligonucleotide, and assembling the polynucleotide by extension of the coupled oligonucleotides.

[0011] In some embodiments, the coupling of oligonucleotides is carried out by ligation with a ligase, preferably T4 RNA ligase. In further embodiments, at least one of the contiguous oligonucleotides undergoing coupling is attached to solid support. Furthermore, the resulting coupled oligonucleotide may also be attached to solid support. In other embodiments, at least one of the oligonucleotides undergoing coupling may be blocked at one end, and the blocking group may comprise or be capable of attaching to solid support. Preferably, coupled oligonucleotides comprise pairs of contiguous oligonucleotides, and assembly of the polynucleotide may be carried out by amplification using overlap PCR.

[0012] Other embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods of preparing a polynucleotide having a target sequence from a plurality of oligonucleotides, wherein the sequences of the oligonucleotides comprise the target sequence of the polynucleotide, comprising blocking the 3′ end of each of the oligonucleotides, except for the oligonucleotide comprising the 5′ terminus of said polynucleotide, with a blocking group to form a plurality of blocked oligonucleotides, coupling the 5′ end of each of the blocked oligonucleotides with the 3′ end of a further oligonucleotide of the plurality of oligonucleotides to form a plurality of coupled oligonucleotides, wherein the further oligonucleotide comprises a portion of the polynucleotide immediately 5′ to the sequence of the blocked oligonucleotides, wherein each of the coupled oligonucleotides shares at least one oligonucleotide with at least one other coupled oligonucleotide, and assembling the polynucleotide by extension of the coupled oligonucleotides.

[0013] Preferably, assembled polynucleotides comprise DNA, RNA, or DNA/RNA hybrids. Oligonucleotides may comprise from about 10 to about 200 nucleotides, and the blocking groups preferably comprise or are attached to solid support. Solid support may comprise agarose, polyacrylamide, magnetic beads, polystyrene, polyacrylate, controlled-pore glass, hydroxyethylmethacrylate, polyamide, polyethylene, polyethyleneoxy, and polyethyleneoxy/polystyrene copolymer. A preferred blocking group is ddUTP-biotin.

[0014] In some embodiments, coupling of oligonucleotides is carried out using a ligase. The coupling reaction is preferably a multi-step process comprising contacting a blocked oligonucleotide with ligase and cosubstrate to form activated oligonucleotide, washing the activated oligonucleotide to form washed oligonucleotide, and contacting the washed oligonucleotide with a further oligonucleotide and ligase. A preferred ligase is T4 RNA ligase and a preferred cosubstrate is ATP.

[0015] In some embodiments, coupled oligonucleotides are amplified prior to assembling the polynucleotide.

[0016] Other aspects of the invention include libraries of polynucleotides prepared by the methods described above.

[0017] In yet a further aspect, the present invention encompasses methods of coupling a first oligonucleotide with a further oligonucleotide, wherein the first oligonucleotide is attached to solid support, comprising contacting the first oligonucleotide with ligase and cosubstrate to form activated oligonucleotide, washing the activated oligonucleotide to form washed oligonucleotide, and contacting the washed oligonucleotide with the further oligonucleotide and ligase. Preferably, the oligonucleotides are single-stranded and the ligase is T4 RNA ligase. The cosubstrate is preferably ATP. Other substrates, known to those skilled in the art, can also be used.

[0018] The present invention also encompasses a method of preparing a library of polynucleotides from a plurality of oligonucleotides, wherein each of the polynucleotides shares a plurality of predetermined sequence positions occupied by the oligonucleotides, and wherein each of the polynucleotides comprises a different oligonucleotide in at least one predetermined sequence position, comprising coupling oligonucleotides of the plurality of oligonucleotides to form a plurality of coupled oligonucleotides wherein each of the coupled oligonucleotides shares at least one terminal region of sequence with at least one other coupled oligonucleotide, and assembling the polynucleotides by extension of the coupled oligonucleotides.

[0019] In some embodiments, the plurality of oligonucleotides is derived from a set of polynucleotides having at least one common property. The common property may be sequence homology, enzyme activity, or ligand binding. Preferably, the set of polynucleotides is optimized.

[0020] According to other embodiments, the present invention encompasses methods of preparing a library of polynucleotides from a plurality of oligonucleotides, wherein each of the polynucleotides share a plurality of predetermined sequence positions occupied by the oligonucleotides, and wherein each of the polynucleotides comprises a different oligonucleotide in at least one predetermined sequence position, comprising blocking the 3′ end of each of the oligonucleotides, except for the oligonucleotides comprising the 5′ terminus of the polynucleotides, with a blocking group to form a plurality of blocked oligonucleotides, coupling the 5′ end of each of the blocked oligonucleotides with the 3′ end of a further oligonucleotide of the plurality of oligonucleotides to form a plurality of coupled oligonucleotides, wherein the further oligonucleotide comprises a sequence position immediately 5′ to said sequence position of said blocked oligonucleotides, wherein each of the coupled oligonucleotides shares at least one oligonucleotide with at least one other coupled oligonucleotide, and assembling the polynucleotide by extension of the coupled oligonucleotides.

[0021] The present invention is further directed to methods of identifying a polynucleotide with a predetermined property, comprising generating a library of polynucleotides according to any of the methods described above, and selecting at least one polynucleotide within the library having the predetermined property.

[0022] Additionally, the present invention is directed to methods of identifying a polynucleotide with a predetermined property, comprising generating a library of polynucleotides according to any of the methods described above, selecting at least one polynucleotide within the library having the predetermined property; and repeating the library generation and polynucleotide selection wherein at least one oligonucleotide of the selected polynucleotides is preferentially incorporated into the library.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023]FIG. 1 outlines a representative embodiment for the preparation of a polynucleotide according to the methods of the present invention.

[0024]FIG. 2 outlines a representative embodiment for the preparation of a combinatorial library of polynucleotides according to the methods of the present invention.

[0025]FIG. 3 shows a phenogram of a phylogeny of 29 subtilisin-like amino acid sequences.

[0026] FIGS. 4A-4M show alignments of the 29 subtilisin-like amino acid sequences designated by accession numbers: SAgi119308 (SEQ ID NO: 1); gi267048 (SEQ ID NO: 2); SAgi730412 (SEQ ID NO: 3); SAgi6137335 (SEQ ID NO: 4); SAgi267046 (SEQ ID NO: 5); gi2970044 (SEQ ID NO: 6); gi2118104 (SEQ ID NO: 7); gi2118105 (SEQ ID NO: 8); gi11127680 (SEQ ID NO: 9); gi135016 (SEQ ID NO: 10); gi9837236 (SEQ ID NO: 11); gi995621 (SEQ ID NO: 12); gi995623 (SEQ ID NO: 13); gi995625 (SEQ ID NO: 14); gi9837238 (SEQ ID NO: 15); gi549004 (SEQ ID NO: 16); gi4139636 (SEQ ID NO: 17); gi230163 (SEQ ID NO: 18); gi135015 (SEQ ID NO: 19); gi773560 (SEQ ID NO: 20); gi494620 (SEQ ID NO: 21); gi494621 (SEQ ID NO: 22); gi2914658 (SEQ ID NO: 23); gi10173298 (SEQ ID NO: 24); gi2147106 (SEQ ID NO: 25); gi135010 (SEQ ID NO: 26); gi7435653 (SEQ ID NO: 27); gi10174108 (SEQ ID NO: 28); gi10173310 (SEQ ID NO: 29).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0027] As used herein, the term “polynucleotide” means a polymer of nucleotides including ribonucleotides and deoxyribonucleotides, and modifications thereof, and combinations thereof. Preferred nucleotides include, but are not limited to, those comprising adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), thymine (T), and uracil (U). Modified nucleotides include, but are not limited to, those comprising 4-acetylcytidine, 5-(carboxyhydroxylmethyl)uridine, 2-O-methylcytidine, 5-carboxymethylaminomethyl-2-thiouridine, 5-carboxymethylaminomethyluridine, dihydrouridine, 2-O-methylpseudouridine, 2-O-methylguanosine, inosine, N6-isopentyladenosine, 1-methyladenosine, 1-methylpseudouridine, 1-methylguanosine, 1-methylinosine, 2,2-dimethylguanosine, 2-methyladenosine, 2-methylguanosine, 3-methylcytidine, 5-methylcytidine, N6-methyladenosine, 7-methylguanosine, 5-methylaminomethyluridine, 5-methoxyaminomethyl-2-thiouridine, 5-methoxyuridine, 5-methoxycarbonylmethyl-2-thiouridine, 5-methoxycarbonylmethyluridine, 2-methylthio-N6-isopentyladenosine, uridine-5-oxyacetic acid-methylester, uridine-5-oxyacetic acid, wybutoxosine, wybutosine, pseudouridine, queuosine, 2-thiocytidine, 5-methyl-2-thiouridine, 2-thiouridine, 4-thiouridine, 5-methyluridine, 2-O-methyl-5-methyluridine, 2-O-methyluridine, and the like. The polynucleotides of the invention can also comprise both ribonucleotides and deoxyribonucleotides in the same polynucleotide.

[0028] The phrase “target sequence,” as used herein, refers to a predetermined polynucleotide or corresponding amino acid sequence of one or more polynucleotides to be synthesized.

[0029] As used herein, the term “oligonucleotide” means a polymer of nucleotides, including ribonucleotides and deoxyribonucleotides, and modifications thereof, and combinations thereof, as described above, having up to about 200 bases. The polynucleotides of the present invention comprise a plurality of oligonucleotides. Oligonucleotides are polynucleotide building blocks, and each oligonucleotide occupies a unique “sequence position” in a polynucleotide that comprises it. Oligonucleotides having adjacent sequence positions are referred to as “contiguous.” Thus, assembly of contiguous oligonucleotides renders the polynucleotide to be synthesized.

[0030] The term “extension,” as used herein, means the growing of polynucleotides from oligonucleotides by, for example, sequential addition of mononucleotides to the oligonucleotide ends. The sequence to which mononucleotides are added is directed according to a template of predetermined sequence. In preferred embodiments, extension involves the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in which polymerase catalyzes the addition of mononucleotides to oligonucleotide primers hybridized to a template. The resulting extension product is complementary to the template and may serve as primer for a further template sharing a terminal region of sequence with the original sequence template. In this way, polynucleotides can be generated from a plurality of shorter templates as long as the templates share terminal regions of sequence.

[0031] The term “degenerate,” as used herein, describes a sequence having a variable component. For instance, a polynucleotide that is degenerate at the oligonucleotide level comprises at least one sequence position that is occupied by different oligonucleotides.

[0032] The term “coupling,” as used herein, refers to the covalent joining of two molecules. In the case of coupling of oligonucleotides, coupling preferably refers to the covalent joining of oligonucleotides at their ends to form a linear “coupled oligonucleotide.”

[0033] As used herein, the term “contacting” means the bringing together of compounds to within distances that allow for intermolecular interactions and/or transformations. At least one “contacting” compound is preferably in the solution phase. Other “contacting” compounds may be attached to solid phase.

[0034] “Washing,” as used herein, refers to a step in a synthetic process that involves the removal of byproduct, excess reagent, solvent, buffer, any undesirable material, or any combination thereof, from a reaction product. Washing is facilitated when the reaction product is attached to solid phase and the unwanted material is in solution phase.

[0035] The term “library,” as used herein, refers to a plurality of polynucleotides or polypeptides in which substantially all the members have different sequences. “Combinatorial library” indicates a library prepared by combinatorial methods.

[0036] As used herein, the phrase “parent polynucleotides” or “parent set of polynucleotides” means a plurality of polynucleotides from which oligonucleotides are designed for the assembly of libraries.

[0037] As used herein, the phrase “oligonucleotide subset” or “subset of oligonucleotides” refers to a group of oligonucleotides within a plurality of oligonucleotides having a common sequence position. An “oligonucleotide subset” represents the oligonucleotides of a certain sequence position of a parent set of polynucleotides.

[0038] As used herein, the term “share” relates to items having the same characteristics. For instance, polynucleotides “share” regions of sequence when polynucleotides comprise substantially the same region of sequence. Additionally, polynucleotides that “share” properties have substantially the same properties.

[0039] As used herein, the term “homologous” or “homology” describes polynucleotide or polypeptides, or portions thereof, having a degree of sequence identity. Homology can be readily calculated by sequence comparisons using the BLAST computer program with default parameters.

[0040] As used herein, the term “screening” or “screen” refers to processes for assaying large numbers of library members for a “predetermined property” or desired characteristic. “Predetermined properties” include any distinguishing characteristic, such as structural or functional characteristics, of a polynucleotide or polypeptide including, but not limited to, primary structure, secondary structure, tertiary structure, encoded enzymatic activity, catalytic activity, stability, or ligand binding affinity. Some predetermined properties pertaining to enzyme and catalytic activity include higher or lower activities, broader or more specific activities, and activity with previously unknown or different substrates relative to wild type. Some predetermined properties related to ligand binding include, but are not limited to, weaker or stronger binding affinities, increased or decreased enantioselectivities, and higher or lower binding specificities relative to wild type. Other predetermined properties may be related to the stability of proteins, preferably enzymes, with respect to organic solvent systems, temperature, and sheer forces (i.e., stirring and ultrafiltration). Further, predetermined properties may be related to the ability of a protein to function under certain conditions related to temperature, pH, salinity, and the like. Predetermined properties are often the goal of directed evolution efforts in which a protein or nucleic acid is artificially evolved to exhibit new and/or improved properties relative to wild type.

[0041] As used herein, the phrase “ligand binding” refers to a property of a molecule that has binding affinity for a ligand. Ligands are typically small molecules such as, but not limited to, peptides, hormones, and drugs that bind to ligand-binding proteins such as, but not limited to, biological receptors, enzymes, antibodies, and the like.

[0042] The methods of the present invention are directed, inter alia, to the preparation of polynucleotides, libraries of polynucleotides, and polynucleotides having desired properties. Polynucleotides suitable for the present invention may include DNA, RNA, DNA/RNA hybrids, or derivatives thereof. The polynucleotide is preferably a gene, portion of a gene, a plasmid, cosmid, viral genome, bacterial genome, mammalian genome, origins of replication, or the like. Additionally, polynucleotides prepared by the present methods may be any length, but are preferably greater than about 100 nucleotides. More preferably, the polynucleotide comprises from about 400 nucleotides to about 100,000 nucleotides, more preferably from about 750 nucleotides to about 50,000 nucleotides, and even more preferably from about 1000 nucleotides to about 10,000 nucleotides.

[0043] In order to prepare a polynucleotide by the methods of the present invention, the sequence of the polynucleotide to be synthesized is preferably predetermined to facilitate its design and assembly. The predetermined sequence is simultaneously herein referred to as a target sequence, that could be, for example, the sequence of a gene. Methods for determining the sequence of a polynucleotide are well known to those skilled in the art and sequences are readily available in public databases such as GenBank. The polynucleotide can be thought of as composed of a finite number of smaller polynucleotides, or oligonucleotides, assembled in a certain order. The positions of each of the oligonucleotides within the polynucleotide are designated by sequence position. Since only a single order of oligonucleotides will yield the target sequence of the polynucleotide, each oligonucleotide has a unique sequence position. Oligonucleotides that have adjacent sequence positions are referred to as contiguous.

[0044] Oligonucleotides according to the present invention may be any length of no fewer than two nucleotides (nt) and no more than the length of the target sequence less two nucleotides. Preferably, oligonucleotides may range from about 10 to about 20 nt, from about 20 to about 30 nt, from 30 to about 50 nt, from about 50 to about 100 nt, or from about 100 to about 200 nt in length and may vary in size from each other. Oligonucleotides of any predetermined sequence comprising DNA and/or RNA are readily accessible, such as by synthesis on a commercially available nucleic acid synthesizer, and other methods for their syntheses and handling are well known to those skilled in the art.

[0045] Polynucleotides to be synthesized by the methods of the present invention are prepared by first coupling contiguous oligonucleotides end to end to form a plurality of coupled oligonucleotides of intermediate length (i.e., greater than the individual oligonucleotides undergoing coupling, but shorter than the full length polynucleotide). Each of the coupled oligonucleotides represents a region of the polynucleotide. The so formed plurality of coupled oligonucleotides is preferably designed such that all sequence positions of the desired polynucleotide are represented. The coupled oligonucleotides are further designed such that they share at least one terminal region of sequence with at least one other coupled oligonucleotide. Each coupled oligonucleotide comprises at least one region of sequence comprising a terminus (i.e., the terminal region of sequence) that is substantially identical with the terminal region of sequence of at least one other coupled oligonucleotide. For example, in a preferred embodiment, a first coupled oligonucleotide may be the result of coupling first and second oligonucleotides. Each of the first and second oligonucleotides of the first coupled oligonucleotide therefore includes a terminal region of sequence in the coupled oligonucleotide. Thus, a further coupled oligonucleotide, built from second and third oligonucleotides, would share terminal regions of sequence with the first coupled oligonucleotide because both coupled oligonucleotides comprise the same second oligonucleotide. In further embodiments, coupled oligonucleotides may comprise more than two oligonucleotides. For instance, three, four, five, six, or more oligonucleotides may be coupled to form coupled oligonucleotides. Coupled oligonucleotides having more than two oligonucleotides can be prepared, for example, by sequential coupling of the oligonucleotide components as described in U.S. Ser. No. 09/571,774, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0046] In preferred embodiments, the coupling of oligonucleotides proceeds in a fashion that results in covalent linkage of the oligonucleotides, preferably at their termini. Although any method of covalently linking oligonucleotides is suitable for the present invention, preferred embodiments may involve the ligation of oligonucleotides with a ligase. Ligation of DNA fragments using ligase is well known to those skilled in the art. A particularly preferred ligase is one that is capable of ligating single-stranded oligonucleotides such as an RNA ligase. T4 RNA ligase, or genetically modified versions thereof with enhanced catalytic activity, are particularly preferred RNA ligases. The coupling of oligonucleotides using T4 RNA ligase, and a method for obtaining a modified version of T4 RNA ligase, are described in detail in U.S. Ser. No. 09/571,774, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Alternatively, ribozymes may be used to ligate oligonucleotides.

[0047] Coupling of the oligonucleotides may be facilitated by using a blocking group and/or solid support attached to at least one of the oligonucleotides to be coupled. Blocking groups may aid in the assembly of oligonucleotides in the desired order and also may help prevent unwanted coupling reactions between non-contiguous oligonucleotides. In preferred embodiments, the 3′ end of one of the oligonucleotides to be coupled is blocked, thereby facilitating coupling of the unblocked 5′ end with the unblocked 3′ end of a further oligonucleotide. Blocking groups are well known to those skilled in the art and may include 3′ enzymatic acylation, a 3′ Pi group, and the like. Other suitable blocking groups and methods are described in Krug, et al., Biochemistry 1982, 21, 1858. Preferred blocking groups are capable of attaching to solid support or comprise solid support. A particularly preferred blocking group is ddUTP-biotin. This blocking group, which can be attached to the 3′ end of an oligonucleotide with deoxynucleotidyl transferase, substantially precludes ligation reactions at its site and allows binding of oligonucleotides to solid support. Blocking groups may be cleaved from oligonucleotides by reactions well known to those skilled in the art.

[0048] In some embodiments of the present invention, at least one of the contiguous oligonucleotides to be coupled is attached to solid support. Solid support facilitates manipulations in the assembly of the polynucleotide to be synthesized and is amenable to automation of the present methods. Solid support may also function as a blocking group. Any solid support may be suitable for the present invention so long as it does not substantially interfere with enzymatic reactions or bind non-specifically to polynucleotides or proteins. Suitable solid support may comprise agarose, polyacrylamide, magnetic beads, polystyrene, polyacrylate, controlled-pore glass, hydroxyethylmethacrylate, polyamide, polyethylene, polyethyleneoxy, or polyethyleneoxy/polystyrene copolymer, and the like. Oligonucleotides may be attached to and cleaved from solid support by methods well known to those skilled in the art. Examples of solid support and methods of immobilizing oligonucleotides thereto are described in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,942,609, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0049] According to the methods of the present invention, the plurality of coupled oligonucleotides, comprising the oligonucleotides of the polynucleotide to be synthesized, are extended to assemble the full-length polynucleotide product. Preferably, extension is carried out by pooling and amplifying the plurality of coupled oligonucleotides, representing all sequence positions of the desired polynucleotide, together. Although amplification can be carried out by any means available, it is preferably carried out by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the presence of appropriate primers. Preferred primers include an oligonucleotide that is substantially complementary to a region of sequence comprising the 3′ terminus of the target sequence and an oligonucleotide substantially identical with, or overlapping, the region of sequence comprising the 5′ terminus of the target sequence. In this fashion, the shared terminal regions of sequence in the plurality of coupled oligonucleotides serve as primers for extension. This type of PCR reaction is often referred to as overlap extension or overlap PCR and is well known to those skilled in the art. Overlap extension PCR methods involve the assembly of a polynucleotide from template segments. Generally, the segments comprise (or share) common regions of sequence at their termini that serve as primers for extension and assembly of the polynucleotide. References exemplifying the overlap PCR technique include Mullinax, et al., Biotechniques, 1992, 12, 864; Ye, et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 1992, 186, 143; Horton, et al., Gene 1989, 77, 61; and Ho, et al., Gene, 1989, 77, 51, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0050] In some embodiments, the polynucleotide is assembled directly by extension of coupled oligonucleotides attached to solid support. However, in other embodiments of the present invention, the coupled oligonucleotides may be individually amplified prior to assembling. Amplification can be carried out by any means, however, PCR amplification is preferable. Primers appropriate for PCR amplification of coupled oligonucleotides include oligonucleotides substantially complementary to the region of sequence comprising the 3′ end of each coupled oligonucleotide and oligonucleotides substantially identical to, or overlapping with, the 5′ end of each coupled oligonucleotide. Additionally, the 5′-most oligonucleotide of each coupled oligonucleotide may be used as primer.

[0051] Other amplification methods suitable for the present invention may include strand displacement amplification (Walker, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 1992, 89, 392 and Walker, et al., Nucleic Acids Research, 1992, 20, 1691, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), nucleic acid sequence based amplification (Compton, Nature, 1991, 350, 91 and Voisset, et al., Biotechniques, 2000, 29, 236, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), and the like.

[0052] In some embodiments of the present invention, a polynucleotide may be assembled from a plurality of coupled oligonucleotides that each comprise pairs of contiguous oligonucleotides. As depicted in FIG. 1, the 3′ end (represented by an arrowhead) of each of the oligonucleotides, except for the oligonucleotide comprising the 5′ terminus of the target sequence, may be blocked with a blocking group (represented by a circle) to form a plurality of blocked oligonucleotides. Preferably, the blocking group comprises solid support or is further attached to solid support. The free 5′ end of each of the blocked oligonucleotides is then coupled with the 3′ end of a further oligonucleotide that comprises the portion of target sequence immediately 5′ to the sequence of the blocked oligonucleotides. Preferably, the further oligonucleotide is derived from the same set of oligonucleotides that were blocked. Each of the resulting coupled oligonucleotides of intermediate length, therefore, comprises two (or a pair of) contiguous oligonucleotides. The resulting set of coupled oligonucleotides contains each of the original oligonucleotides of the target polynucleotide, all of which are represented twice (i.e., once in two different coupled oligonucleotides), except for the oligonucleotides comprising the 3′ and 5′ ends of the target sequence which are represented once. It is in this fashion, for example, that the coupled oligonucleotides share terminal regions of sequence.

[0053] Using the plurality of coupled oligonucleotides as combined templates and primers, the target polynucleotide may be assembled by extension of the coupled oligonucleotides. During extension, coupled oligonucleotides may remain blocked, at their 3′ ends. According to preferred embodiments, the coupled oligonucleotides are pooled and amplified by overlap PCR in the presence of appropriate primers. Preferred primers include oligonucleotides complementary to the portion of target sequence comprising the 3′ end and oligonucleotides substantially identical with, or overlapping, the portion of target sequence comprising the 5′ end. Primer length can be any convenient length but typically range from about 5 nucleotides to about 30 nucleotides, or more preferably from about 15 nucleotides to about 25 nucleotides, or even more preferably from about 15 nucleotides to about 20 nucleotides. The target polynucleotide is thus formed by the extension of target sequence at overlapping regions of sequence in the set of coupled oligonucleotides.

[0054] In some instances, it may be desirable to individually amplify each of the coupled oligonucleotides prior to assembly. For instance, if yields of the coupling reaction are low, the coupled oligonucleotides may be amplified by PCR to yield material of sufficient quantitiy and/or purity to facilitate further manipulation. Coupled oligonucleotides may also be amplified by other amplification methods. Purification of amplified product may be carried out by gel electrophoresis and gel extraction as are well known to those skilled in the art. Amplification and electrophoresis techniques are exemplified in, for example, Sambrook, et al., (Eds.), Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Guide, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press: Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1989), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0055] According to the methods of the present invention, the coupling of oligonucleotides is preferably carried out in the presence of a ligase. Ligases are well known to those skilled in the art as enzymes that are capable of ligating the blunt ends of nucleic acids. While not wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that ligases catalyze the formation of a phosphodiester bond between the 3′-OH group at the end of one nucleic acid and the 5′-phosphate group at the end of another nucleic acid. The mechanism is believed to proceed through a nucleic acid-adenylate intermediate in which an AMP group is attached to the phosphate group at the 5′ terminus of a nucleic acid. The activated phosphate group then undergoes nucleophilic attack by the 3′-OH of a further nucleic acid, yielding the coupled nucleic acid. DNA ligases are specific for double-stranded nucleic acids, and their use as ligating reagents is well known to those skilled in the art. In contrast with DNA ligases, RNA ligases are capable of ligating single-stranded nucleic acids.

[0056] In view of the proposed ligation mechanism, methods for coupling oligonucleotides of the present invention comprise several steps. A first step involves contacting a first oligonucleotide with a ligase and cosubstrate to form an intermediate activated oligonucleotide. For oligonucleotides that are single-stranded, a preferred ligase is an RNA ligase, such as T4 RNA ligase. Cosubstrates can include ATP, NAD+, or other molecules depending on the specificity of the ligase. For instance, ATP cosubstrate is preferably used with T4 RNA ligase. In some embodiments, the first oligonucleotide is attached to a blocking group, preferably at the 3′ end. Alternatively, the blocking group comprises solid support or is attached to solid support to facilitate subsequent manipulations. The activated oligonucleotide is then washed to isolate it from residual reagents or byproducts. Not wishing to be bound by theory, it is thought that the activated oligonucleotide corresponds to an adenylated intermediate (when cosubstrate is ATP) which may be susceptible to nucleophilic attack by AMP byproducts. This side reaction may result in insertions of A or poly-A as well as contribute to poor yields of the desired coupled oligonucleotide. The washed oligonucleotide is then contacted with a further oligonucleotide and ligase to form the desired coupled oligonucleotide. Preferably, the further oligonucleotide comprises a free 3′-OH group. The contacting of washed oligonucleotide is preferably performed in the absence of any competing ligase substrates or cosubstrates including, but not limited to, ATP and AMP, or other reactants that may interfere with direct coupling of oligonucleotides. The resulting coupled oligonucleotide may be purified by subsequent washing and/or amplification.

[0057] Methods of the present invention include the preparation of libraries of polynucleotides. In general, libraries of polynucleotides comprise a plurality of different polynucleotides, typically generated by randomization or combinatorial methods, that may be screened for members having desirable properties. Libraries can comprise a minimum of two members but typically, and desirably, contain a much larger number. Larger libraries are more likely to have members with desirable properties, however, current screening methods have difficulty handling very large libraries (i.e., of more than a few thousand unique members). Thus, preferred libraries comprise from about 10¹ to about 10¹⁰, or more preferably from about 10² to about 10⁵, or even more preferably from about 10³ to about 10⁴ unique polynucleotide members.

[0058] Libraries of the present invention are characterized as a set, or plurality, of polynucleotides that share a plurality of predetermined sequence positions. These sequence positions serve as markers along the target sequences that indicate the desired order and position of each assembled oligonucleotide. Thus, each of the sequence positions are preferably occupied by an oligonucleotide. Furthermore, each of the polynucleotides of the library preferably comprises a different oligonucleotide in at least one sequence position. Different oligonucleotides differ by sequence. Different oligonucleotides may be of variable size, comprising insertions or deletions. Additionally, different oligonucleotides may constitute a set of degenerate oligonucleotides, varying at one or more nucleotide sites. Thus, individual polynucleotide members of the libraries differ in sequence from each other because their oligonucleotide compositions are different.

[0059] Libraries of the present invention are built up from a plurality of oligonucleotides. The plurality of oligonucleotides is composed of subsets of oligonucleotides, each subset corresponding to a certain sequence position. Subsets may contain a single oligonucleotide or any number of different oligonucleotides. At least one subset is comprised of more than one oligonucleotide. Upon synthesis, each polynucleotide member of the library is preferably assembled using one oligonucleotide per sequence position. For instance, if one oligonucleotide subset contains two different oligonucleotides, and the others contain only one oligonucleotide, then a library of two different polynucleotides can be assembled. The two library members differ by incorporation of different oligonucleotides at a certain sequence position. Thus, it is readily apparent that large combinatorial libraries can be generated from multiple oligonucleotide subsets having a plurality of different oligonucleotide members.

[0060] Oligonucleotides for assembling a library of polynucleotides can be selected in any number of ways. In some embodiments, oligonucleotides are constituents of a set of parent polynucleotides. The set of parent polynucleotides may comprise polynucleotides sharing any level of homology, including, for instance, little or no homology ranging from about 0% to about 10%, or about 10% to about 20%, or about 20% to about 30%, or about 30% to about 40%, or about 40% to about 50% identity at the nucleotide level. In some embodiments, the parent set of polynucleotides may share some homology at the amino acid level (e.g., greater than about 50% identity), yet share little or no homology at the polynucleotide level.

[0061] In other embodiments, the parent polynucleotides are related and share a common property, at the nucleotide or amino acid level, such as a physical characteristic or specific function. Although not a necessary condition as indicated above, the parent polynucleotides may be related by the physical characteristic of homology. For instance, related polynucleotides may possess homology at the nucleotide or amino acid level. Furthermore, homology may occur at the sequence level (such as primary structure), secondary structure level (such as, but not limited to, helices, beta-strands, hairpins, etc.), or tertiary structure level (such as, but not limited to, Rossman folds, beta-barrels, immunoglobin folds, etc.). Although, any level of homology (at either the nucleotide or amino acid level) may be used as a criterion for selecting a set of polynucleotides, preferred ranges of homology include, but are not limited to, at least about 50%, at least about 60%, at least about 70%, at least about 80%, at least about 90%, at least about 95%, or at least about 99% identity at the amino acid level. Other common properties suitable for selection of a set of polynucleotides include enzyme activity and ligand binding properties for the polynucleotides themselves or their expression products. For instance, sets of parent polynucleotides may comprise polynucleotides coding for particular enzymes that catalyze a desired chemical reaction or receptors that bind certain ligands.

[0062] In preferred embodiments, the set of parent polynucleotides can be selected according to their function. As a non-limiting example, one or more polynucleotide sequences may be identified from public sources, such as literature databases like PubMed, sequence databases like GenBank, or enzyme databases available on-line from ExPASy of the Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, based on their ability to code for proteins capable of catalyzing a certain chemical reaction. Upon identification of a polynucleotide, others sharing homology at the nucleotide or amino acid level can be further identified using homology searching tools, such as BLAST (publically available online at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/BLAST/).

[0063] Sets of parent polynucleotides may comprise any number of unique polynucletide sequences, however, it is often desirable to seek a balance between the preparation of large libraries that may potentially harbor an optimal variant and smaller libraries that are more easily managed and manipulated. For instance, a selected set of fewer than five parent polynucleotides can yield up to about 10⁵ different recombined sequences which provides diversity and is readily handled during screening. It is therefore apparent that polynucletide sets of five or more can readily result in exponentially larger libraries that are difficult to work with, are not amenable to present screening techniques, and may incur significant cost. Thus, it is often desirable to prepare an optimized set of polynucleotides that balances the needs for diverse libraries, easy manipulation, and low cost.

[0064] Optimization of parent polynucleotide sets can be achieved by a variety of methods. For example, an optimized set of parent polynucleotides can be selected from a larger set of polynucletides. The basis for selection can be a specific property, function, or physical characteristic that is desirable in the recombined sequences of the library. For instance, if a recombined polynucleotide sequence capable of coding for an enzyme that catalyzes a reaction at high pH is desired, then of the possible polynucleotide sequences that catalyze the reaction, only the ones that perform at high pH are selected to comprise the optimized set of polynucleotides. In another approach to making optimized sets of polynucleotides that makes fewer assumptions about the contribution of sequence to phenotype and allows for greater diversity, members of the optimized set may be chosen according to phylogenies. For example, a set of polynucleotides sharing a predetermined minimal sequence homology may be organized into a phylogenetic tree. Algorithms enabling the assembly of homologous sequences into phylogenetic trees are well known to those skilled in the art. For instance, the phylogenetic tree building program package Phylip is readily available to the public on-line at evolution.genetics.washington.edu/phylip.html maintained by the University of Washington. Sequences representing different branches of the calculated phylogenetic tree may then be selected to comprise an optimized set of polynucleotides.

[0065] The set of parent polynucleotides is dissected into oligonucleotides. Oligonucleotides may be chosen randomly or based on particular features of the polynucleotides. Oligonucleotides may also be chosen in order to facilitate their coupling. For example, it may be preferable for the 5′ terminus of oligonucleotides to be a C, rather than a G, because the enzyme T4 RNA ligase ligates acceptor oligonucleotides to a 5° C. more efficiently. In the event the parent polynucleotides share homology, the sequences may be aligned to facilitate identification of regions of sequence appropriate to represent a subset of oligonucleotides. For instance, a highly variable or highly conserved region of sequence may be designated to represent a subset of oligonucleotides. Sequence alignments are readily performed by those skilled in the art. An example of a suitable sequence alignment program is ClustalW v. 1.7, available online at clustalw.genome.adjp. Oligonucleotides may also be designed according to size. For example, subsets having longer oligonucleotides may result in libraries with less complexity than libraries comprising shorter oligonucleotides. Furthermore, oligonucleotides not directly derived from the selected polynucleotide set can be introduced into the library. For instance, certain mutations or degeneracies desired in the resulting library may be incorporated by adding oligonucleotides to the desired subsets (or sequence positions). Thus, great control can be maintained in engineering particular features into the library such as, but not limited to, restriction sites, point mutations, frame shifts, insertions, deletions, and the like.

[0066] In preferred embodiments, oligonucleotide subsets may be determined from their corresponding amino acid sequence subsets. Accordingly, in order to encode two or more amino acids at the same position in the same sequence (degeneracies), the following methods may be used. Most simply, it may be readily determined upon inspection that a basepair in one oligonucleotide differs from the analogous basepair of a further oligonucleotide, and the difference directly corresponds to a difference in one amino acid. Alternatively, a further embodiment involves determining oligonucleotide subsets from the amino acid sequences themselves. This approach may be facilitated using the computer program CyberDope which is available online at www.kairos-scientific.com/searchable/cyberdope.html and is described in Delagrave, et al., Protein Eng., 1993, supra., Delagrave, et al., Biotechnology 1993 supra, and Goldman, et al., supra. According to this program, a set of amino acids, for instance occupying a variable amino acid site in a set of polypeptides, may be entered, (e.g., A and S, or A, S and T). Based on the amino acids entered, the program calculates a set of degenerate codons. In alternative embodiments, the codon preferences (codon usage) of the host organism which will express the library of polynucleotides, may be taken into account when designing the oligonucleotides to avoid introducing disfavored codons.

[0067] If antisense complementary oligonucleotides are required in the preparation of the libraries (i.e., during amplification), care should be taken to maintain the degeneracies encoded in the above sense oligonucleotides. The use of inosine as a base complementary to a degenerate position has been described in the past (Reidhaar-Olson, et al., Science, 1988, 241, 53).

[0068] Libraries according to the present invention can be prepared from oligonucleotides by the procedures hereinbefore described. A representative example, FIG. 2 shows a method for the recombination of a set of two parent polynucleotide sequences (G and R), having four sequence positions numbered 1 to 4, each sequence position representing an oligonucleotide subset (e.g., G2 and R2), to generate a library of all 16 possible combinations. Generally speaking for the preparation of libraries, contiguous oligonucleotides, having adjacent sequence positions, are coupled to form coupled oligonucleotides that share terminal regions of sequence. Because one or more sequence positions can be represented by more than one oligonucleotide, coupled oligonucleotides preferably represent at least some, if not all, of the possible contiguous oligonucleotide combinations. For example, in FIG. 2, three groups of four different coupled oligonucleotide combinations are represented, where coupled oligonucleotides comprise two contiguous oligonucleotides. These groups are distinguished from each other by the sequence positions they represent. For illustrative purposes, FIG. 2 shows one coupled oligonucleotide group representing sequence positions 1 and 2, another group representing sequence positions 2 and 3, and a further group representing sequence positions 3 and 4. Each library member, according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, is a assembled from three coupled oligonucleotides, one from each group.

[0069] The library is assembled by extension of the coupled oligonucleotides. Preferably, the coupled oligonucleotides are pooled and amplified by PCR as herein described previously. Suitable primers for PCR amplification can be readily determined by one skilled in the art. Preferably, primers may include oligonucleotides complementary to regions of sequence comprising the 3′ termini of the target sequences of the library. For instance, in FIG. 2, suitable primers would be complementary to the 3′ end of oligonucleotides R4 and G4. Other preferred primers include oligonucleotides substantially identical with, or overlapping, regions of sequence comprising the 5′ termini of the target sequences of the library. In FIG. 2, for example, suitable primers include oligonucleotides G1 and R1, or portions thereof comprising the 5′ end.

[0070] Once generated, libraries of polynucleotides may be manipulated directly, or may be inserted into appropriate cloning vectors and expressed. Methods for cloning and expression of polynucleotides, as well as libraries of polynucleotides, are well known to those skilled in the art.

[0071] Libraries of polynucleotides, or the expression products thereof, may be screened for members having desirable new and/or improved properties. Any screening method that may result in the identification or selection of one or more library members having a predetermined property or desirable characteristic is suitable for the present invention. Methods of screening are well known to those skilled in the art and include, for example, enzyme activity assays, biological assays, or binding assays. Preferred screening methods include phage display and other methods of affinity selection, including those applied directly to polynucleotides. Other preferred methods of screening involve, for example, imaging technology and calorimetric assays. Suitable screening methods are further described in Marrs, et al., supra.; Bylina, et al., ASM News, 2000, 66, 211; Joyce, G. F., Gene, 1989, 82, 83; Robertson, et al., Nature, 1990, 344, 467; Chen, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 1993, 90, 5618; Chen, et al., Biotechnology, 1991, 9, 1073; Joo, et al., Chem. Biol., 1999, 6, 699; Joo, et al., Nature, 1999, 399, 670; Miyazaki, et al., J. Mol. Evol., 1999, 49, 716; You, et al., Prot. Eng., 1996, 9, 77; and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,914,245 and 6,117,679, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0072] Polynucleotides identified by screening of a library may be readily isolated and characterized. Preferably, characterization includes sequencing of the identified polynucleotides using standard methods known to those skilled in the art. Alternatively, sequencing and characterization may also be carried out using microarray technology. For instance, the same oligonucleotides used to assemble the library may be arrayed, such as in a “DNA chip,” and then probed using a labeled version (e.g., fluorescently tagged PCR product or transcript) of the polynucleotide to be sequenced. Microarray technology is described in, for instance, Southern, et al., Nat. Genet. 1999, 21, 5, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0073] In preferred embodiments of the present invention, a recursive screening method may be employed for preparing or identifying a polynucleotide with a predetermined property from a library. An example of a recursive screening method is recursive ensemble mutagenesis described in Arkin, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 1992, 89, 7811; Delagrave, et al., Protein Eng., 1993, 6, 327; and Delagrave, et al., Biotechnology, 1993, 11, 1548, each of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. According to this method, one or more polynucleotides, having a predetermined property, are identified from a first library by a suitable screening method. The identified polynucletides are characterized and the resulting information used to assemble a further library. For instance, one or more oligonucleotides of the identified polynucleotides may be preferentially incorporated into a further library which may also be screened for polynucleotides with a desirable property. Generating a library by incorporating the oligonucleotides identified from a previous cycle can be repeated as many time as desired. Preferably, the recursion is terminated upon identification of one or more library members having a predetermined or desirable property that is superior to the desirable property of the identified polynucleotides of previous cycles or that meets a certain threshold or criterion. According to this method, oligonucleotides that do not lead to functional sequences are eliminated from the pool of oligonucleotides used to generate the next library generation. Furthermore, amounts of oligonucleotides used in the preparation of a further library can be weighted according to their frequency of occurrence in the identified polynucleotides. Alternatively, if the identified polynucleotides are too small in number to accurately represent the true frequency of occurrence in a population of desirable polynucleotides, their amounts can be equally weighted. As an example, if the initial set of polynucleotides was chosen based on equal representation of branches of a phylogenetic tree, it is possible that certain families would be represented more frequently than others in the polynucleotides identified with a screen. Thus, polynucleotides belonging to these preferred families but not used in the initial generation of a library may be used to prepare a further library generation, thus expanding diversity while preserving a bias towards desirable sequences.

[0074] Collectively, the methods of the present invention allow for rapid and controlled “directed evolution” of genes and proteins. The present methods facilitate the preparation of biomolecules having desirable properties that are not naturally known or available. Uses for these improved biomolecules are widespread, promising contributions to the areas of chemistry, biotechnology, and medicine. Enzymes having improved catalytic activities and receptors having modified ligand binding affinities, to name a few, are just some of the possible achievements of the present invention.

[0075] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that numerous changes and modifications can be made to the preferred embodiments of the invention and that such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is, therefore, intended that the appended claims cover all such equivalent variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

[0076] The disclosures of each patent, patent application, and publication cited or described in this document are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

[0077] Examples 1-3 are actual while the remaining Examples are prophetic.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Preparation of a Single Polynucleotide

[0078] Oligonucleotides

[0079] The following oligonucleotides were synthesized by Operon Inc. (Alameda, Calif.):

[0080] G1(100 mer): G1 (100mer): AGAGGATCCCCGGGTACCGGTAGAAAAAATGAGTA (SEQ ID NO:30) AAGGAGAAGAACTTTTCACTGGAGTTGTCCCAATT CTTGTTGAATTAGATGGTGATGTTAATGGG

[0081] G2 (60 mer, 5′ phosphorylated): G2 (60mer, 5′ phosphorylated): CACAAATTTTCTGTCAGTGGAGAGGGTGAAGGTGA (SEQ ID NO:31) TGCAACATACGGAAAACTTACCCTT

[0082] G3 (60 mer, 5′ phosphorylated): G3 (60mer, 5′ phosphorylated): AAATTTATTTGCACTACTGGAAAACTACCGGTTCC (SEQ ID NO:32) ATGGCCAACACTTGTCACTACTTTC

[0083] G4 (100 mer, 5′ phosphorylated): G4 (100mer, 5′ phosphorylated): TCTTATGGTGTTCAATGCTTTTCAAGATACCCAGA (SEQ ID NO:33) TCATATGAAACGGCATGACTTTTTCAAGAGTGCCA TGCCCGAAGGTTATGTACAGGAAAGAACTA pcrG1 (20mer): AGAGGATCCCCGGGTACCGG (SEQ ID NO:34) G2- (20mer): AAGGGTAAGTTTTCCGTATG (SEQ ID NO:35) G3- (20mer): GAAAGTAGTGACAAGTGTTG (SEQ ID NO:36) G4- (20mer): TAGTTCTTTCCTGTACATAA (SEQ ID NO:37)

[0084] All oligonucleotides were received purified by HPLC or PAGE, lyophilized and quantitated by the manufacturer. Once assembled in the correct order, 5′-G1-G2-G3-G4-3′, the resulting 320 bp-long polynucleotide encoded almost the entire 5′ half of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene.

[0085] Loading beads with oligos

[0086] Oligonucleotides were resuspended in water to yield 25 μM solutions, and ddUTP-biotin labeling of G2, G3 and G4 was performed by mixing in 3 separate tubes: 4 μL 25 μM of oligo G2, G3 or G4; 4 μL 5× buffer provided with enzyme; 4 μL CoCl₂ 25 mM; 1 μL 100 μM ddUTP-biotin (biotin-ε-aminocaproyl-γ-aminobutyryl-[5-(3aminoallyl)-2′,3′-dideoxyuridine-5′-triphosphate, Roche Molecular biochemicals, Mannheim, Germany); 1 μL terminal transferase (50 U/mL, Roche Molecular biochemicals, Mannheim, Germany); and 6 μL H₂O in 20 μL of total volume.

[0087] The reactions were incubated 15 minutes at 37° C. The desired reaction product, a blocked oligonucleotide to which a ddUTP-biotin is attached at its 3′ end, is referred to below as G2-ddUTP-biotin or G3-ddUTP-biotin, etc. . . . This is a slight deviation from the manufacturer's recommended protocol in that the concentration of ddUTP-biotin is 10-fold lower than suggested. Surprisingly, it was found that the yield of amplified ligation product was higher under these conditions. This may be because larger amounts of ddUTP-biotin compete with blocked oligonucleotide for biotin-binding sites on the beads.

[0088] Three aliquots of 25 μL of Magnabind streptavidin beads (Pierce, Rockford, Ill.) were washed once with 50 μL of 2×B&W buffer (10 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.5, 1 mM EDTA, 2M NaCl) and resuspended in 25μL 2×B&W. Then 20 μL of the G2-ddUTP-biotin reaction were added to 25 μL of washed beads. The same was done for the G3-ddUTP-biotin and G4-ddUTP-biotin reactions. The beads and blocked oligonucleotide mixtures were incubated for 30 minutes at 43° C., mixing on occasion to allow binding of the oligonucleotides to the beads. Supernatants were removed and discarded. 50 μL of 20 μM biotin was added and incubated at 43° C. for 10 minutes to block unoccupied biotin-binding sites on the beads. Beads were washed once with 100 μL of 2×B&W buffer. Beads were washed once in 25 μL of 1×T4 RNA ligase reaction buffer. As a result, the resuspended beads were loaded with desired oligonucleotides (G2, G3 and G4) and ready for ligation.

[0089] Ligation & amplification: G1+G2

[0090] The following reagents were added to G2 beads: 10 μL of 25 μM oligo G1; 3 μL 200 μM rATP; 1 μL T4 RNA ligase; 3 μL 10× RNA ligase buffer; and 13 μL H₂O for a final total volume of 30 μL. The ligation was allowed to proceed over night at 25° C. Similarly and in parallel, G3 beads were ligated to G2 oligonucleotides (25 μM) and G4 beads were ligated to G3 oligonucleotide (25 μM). Beads were washed twice with 100 μL of 2×B&W and resuspended in 20 μL of H₂O.

[0091] To amplify the G1-G2 ligation product, PCR was performed on washed G1+G2 beads by adding: 2.5 μL of bead suspension; 2 μL of 25 μM of oligonucleotide pcrG1; 21 μL of 25 μM G2-; 5 μL 10× buffer (Thermopol buffer supplied with Vent); 5 μL 2 mM dNTPs (each); 1 μL Vent (2000 U/mL, from New England Biolabs, Inc., Beverly, Mass.); and 32.5 μL H₂O for a final total volume of 50 μL.

[0092] The cycling conditions for the PCR were: 90 seconds at 95° C. followed by 25 cycles of three successive incubations for 15 seconds at 95° C., 15 seconds at 50° C. and 15 seconds at 72° C., followed by a 120 second incubation at 72° C. The G2-G3 and G3-G4 ligation products were amplified similarly, except that G2-G3 bead suspension was used to provide the template of the G2-G3 amplification and G3-G4 bead suspension was used to provide the template of the G3-G4 amplification. Also, instead of using pcrG1 and G2- as primers, G2 itself and G3- were used to amplify G2-G3. Similarly, oligonucleotides G3 and G4- were used to amplify G3-G4.

[0093] Only G1-G2 ligation product was observed after this incubation, as determined by PAGE of 2.5 μL aliquots of the PCRs (4%-20% TBE gradient PAGE supplied by Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.). DNA was visualized using SYBR Green I dye according to the manufacturer's instructions (BioWhittaker, Walkersville, Md.). An additional 0.5 μL of Vent polymerase was added to each PCR tube and the samples were subjected to a “touch-down” temperature cycling protocol: 90 seconds at 95° C. followed by 25 cycles of three successive incubations for 15 seconds at 95° C., 20 seconds at 50 to 40° C. and 20 seconds at 72° C., followed by a 120 second incubation at 72° C. In a touch-down PCR, the annealing temperature is decreased by a fixed amount at each cycle. In this case, the annealing temperature was decreased from 50 to 40° C. over 25 cycles (0.4° C./cycle). Examination of aliquots of the resulting samples by PAGE showed bands of the expected molecular weight (MW) for each of the three amplification samples.

[0094] Each PCR product was electrophoresed in an agarose gel, excised and purified using a Qiaquick gel extraction kit (Qiagen, Valencia, Calif.). The resulting DNA samples can conveniently be referred to as G1-G2, G2-G3 and G3-G4.

[0095] Amplification by PCR was carried out by mixing: 1 μL of G1-G2; 2 μL of G2-G3; 2 μL of G3-G4; 2 μL of 25 μM of oligo pcrG1; 2 μL of 25 μM G4-; 5 μL 10× buffer; 5 μL 2 mM dNTPs (each); 1 μL Vent; and H₂O for a final total volume of 50 μL.

[0096] PCR was performed using the following touch-down conditions: 90 seconds at 95° C. followed by 30 cycles of three successive incubations for 15 seconds at 95° C., 20 seconds at 55 to 50° C. and 30 seconds at 72° C., followed by a 120 second incubation at 72° C.

[0097] The desired amplification product, referred to as G1234 ( 320 bp), was observed by electrophoresis of an aliquot of the PCR reaction on an agarose gel. The PCR product was cloned into vector pCR2.1-TOPO (Invitrogen) according to the manufacturer's instructions. The PCR product was also cloned into plasmid pGFP (Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.) by restriction digestion of Kpn I and Bsr GI sites of both the vector and insert and ligation.

[0098] Random TOPO clones of G1234 were sequenced using a model 310 Genetic Analyzer (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.) with sequencing reagents and instructions provided by the manufacturer. Sequencing revealed that all nine sequences had approximately the desired sequence, except for random point mutations and insertions. For example, in all nine sequences the junction of oligos G1 and G2 had a single insertion of the base adenine (A). Similarly, in some of the nine sequences “A” insertions were also observed at junctions G2-G3 and G3-G4. It will be shown in the next example that these insertions can be greatly reduced if not eliminated.

[0099] Clones of pGFP were screened for expression of functional synthetic GFP by assaying colonies for fluorescence. One clone, called SGFP1, was found to be fluorescent and its DNA was sequenced. Compared to wildtype (WT) GFP, this sequence was found to differ at three bases. The first difference was encoded in oligonucleotide G3 to distinguish WT GFP from clones of the synthetic G1234, thus confirming that the synthesis method successfully assembled oligonucleotides in the correct order to yield a functional gene fragment. The other two differences were in codon 87 of the GFP orf (open reading frame). These substitutions, possibly due to errors accumulated during the amplification steps of this protocol, cause the substitution of histidine for alanine at position 87 (A87H). Clone SGFP1 showed a delayed fluorescence phenotype which may be due to this mutation. More specifically, if colonies expressing SGFP1 are assayed for fluorescence after 24 hours of growth on LB plates containing 100 μg/mL of ampicillin, no fluorescence is observed. However, an additional 24 hours of incubation is sufficient for the colonies to become fluorescent.

Example 2 Preparation of a Library of Polynucleotides

[0100] Ligation of contiguous oligonucleotides using a preferred, multi-step process rather than the ligation method described in Example 1, is described below. In addition, ligation of mixtures of oligonucleotides to generate a combinatorial library of sequences, as in FIG. 2, is illustrated.

[0101] In addition to the oligonucleotides described in example 1, new oligonucleotides were synthesized and purified as described above:

[0102] R1 (100 mer): R1 (100mer): AGAGGATCCCCGGGTACCGGTAGAAAAAATGAGGT (SEQ ID NO:38) CTTCCAAGAATGTTATCAAGGAGTTCATGAGGTTT AAGGTTCGCATGGAAGGAACGGTCAATGGG

[0103] R2 (60 mer, 5′ phosphorylated): R2 (60mer, 5′ phosphorylated): CACGAGTTTGAAATAGAAGGCGAAGGAGAGGGGAG (SEQ ID NO:39) GCCATACGAAGGCCACAATACCGTA R3 (63mer, 5′ phosphorylated): AAGCTTAAGGTAACCAAGGGGGGACCTTTGCCATT (SEQ ID NO:40) TGCTTGGGATATTTTGTCACCACAATTT R4 (93mer, 5′ phosphorylated): CAGTATGGAAGCAAGGTATATGTCAAGCACCCTGC (SEQ ID NO:41) CGACATACCAGACTATAAAAAGCTGTCATTTCCTG AAGGATTTGTACAGGAAAGGGTC R2- (18mer): TACGGTATTGTGGCCTTC (SEQ ID NO:42) R3- (21mer): AAATTGTGGTGACAAAATATC (SEQ ID NO:43) R4- (20mer): GACCCTTTCCTGTACAAATC (SEQ ID NO:44)

[0104] Once assembled in the correct order, 5′-R1-R2-R3-R4-3′, the resulting 316 bp-long polynucleotide encoded almost the entire 5′ half of the red fluorescent protein (referred to herein as RFP, but more generally known as DsRed) gene of a Discosoma (coral) species (Matz, et al., Nat. Biotechnol., 1999, 17, 956). Moreover, a combinatorial library of fluorescent protein sequences was generated to yield several examples of the 16 possible combinations of R1 or G1, R2 or G2, R3 or G3, R4 or G4. For instance, possible sequences include R1-G2-R3-G4, R1-R2-R3-R4, G1-G2-R3-R4, etc. . . .

[0105] Loading Beads with Oligos

[0106] Oligonucleotides were resuspended in water to yield 25 μM solutions. Then ddUTP-biotin labeling of a mixture of G2 and R2, as well as mixtures of G3 and R3 and G4 and R4 was performed by mixing in 3 separate tubes: 2 μL each of 25 μM oligonucleotide G2 & R2, G3 & R3 or G4 & R4; 4 μL 5× buffer provided with enzyme; 4 μL CoCl₂ 25 mM, 1 μL 100 μM ddUTP-biotin (biotin-ε-aminocaproyl-γ-aminobutyryl-[5-(3aminoallyl)-2′,3′-dideoxyuridine-5′-triphosphate, Roche Molecular biochemicals, Mannheim, Germany); 1 μL terminal transferase (50 U/mL, Roche Molecular biochemicals, Mannheim, Germany); and 6 μL H₂O in 20 μL of total volume. The reactions were incubated 15 minutes at 37° C. The desired reaction product, a mixture of 2 blocked oligonucleotides to which a ddUTP-biotin is attached at their 3′ ends, is referred to below as RG2-ddUTP-biotin or RG3-ddUTP-biotin, etc. . . .

[0107] Three aliquots of 25 μL of Magnabind streptavidin beads (Pierce, Rockford, Ill.) were washed once with 50 μL of 2×B&W buffer (10 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.5, 1 mM EDTA, 2M NaCl) and resuspended in 25 μL 2×B&W. Then 20 μL of the RG2-ddUTP-biotin reaction were added to 25 μL of washed beads. The same was done for the RG3-ddUTP-biotin and RG4-ddUTP-biotin reactions. The beads and blocked oligonucleotide mixtures were incubated 30 minutes at 43° C., mixing on occasion to allow binding of the oligonucleotides to the beads.

[0108] Supernatants were removed and discarded. 50 μL of 20 μM biotin was added and incubated at 43° C. for 10 minutes to block unoccupied biotin-binding sites on the beads. Beads were washed once with 100 μL of 2×B&W buffer. Beads were washed once in 25 μL of 1×T4 RNA ligase reaction buffer. As a result, the resuspended beads were loaded with desired oligonucleotides (RG2, RG3 and RG4) and ready for ligation.

[0109] Multi-Step Ligation & Amplification: RG1+RG2

[0110] The following reagents were added to RG2 beads: 2 μL 200 μM rATP; 1 μL T4 RNA ligase; 2 μL 10× RNA ligase buffer; and 15 μL H₂O for a final total volume of 20 μL. This adenylylation was allowed to proceed 6 hours at 25° C. The beads were then washed once in 50 μL of H₂O and resuspended in: 5 μL each of 25 μM G1 and R1; 1 μL T4 RNA ligase; 2 μL 10× RNA ligase buffer; 7 μL H₂O for a final volume of 20 μL. This reaction was incubated over night at 25° C. Similarly and in parallel, RG3 beads were ligated in two steps to a mixture of R2 and G2 oligos (25 μM) and RG4 beads to a mixture of R3 and G3 oligos (25 μM). Beads were washed twice with 100 μL of 2×B&W and resuspended in 20 μL of H₂O.

[0111] To amplify the RG1-RG2 ligation products, PCR was performed on washed RG1+RG2 beads by adding: 2.5 μL of bead suspension; 2 μL of 25 μM of oligonucleotide pcrG1; 1 μL of 25 μM R2-; 1 μL of 25 μM G2-; 5 μL 10× buffer (Thermopol buffer supplied with Vent); 5 μL 2mM dNTPs (each); 1 μL Vent (2000 U/mL, from New England Biolabs, Inc., Beverly, Mass.); and H₂O to a final total volume of 50 μL.

[0112] The cycling conditions for the touch-down PCR were: 90 seconds at 95° C. followed by 25 cycles of three successive incubations for 15 seconds at 95° C., 20 seconds at 53 to 43° C. and 20 seconds at 72° C., followed by a 120 second incubation at 72° C. The RG2-RG3 and RG3-RG4 ligation products were amplified similarly, except that RG2-RG3 bead suspension was used to provide the template of the RG2-RG3 amplification and RG3-RG4 bead suspension was used to provide the template of the RG3-RG4 amplification. Also, instead of using pcrG1, R2- and G2- as primers, 1 μL each of G2, R2, R3- and G3- (all 25 μM) were used to amplify RG2-RG3. Similarly, oligonucleotides G3, R3, R4- and G4- were used to amplify RG3-RG4. All three PCRs produced a band of the expected size, as determined by PAGE of 2.5 μL aliquots of the PCRs (4%-20% TBE gradient PAGE supplied by Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.). DNA was visualized using SYBR Green I dye according to the manufacturer's instructions (BioWhittaker, Walkersville, Md.).

[0113] Each PCR product was electrophoresed in an agarose gel, excised and purified using a Qiaquick gel extraction kit (Qiagen, Valencia, Calif.). The resulting DNA samples can conveniently be referred to as RG1-RG2, RG2-RG3 and RG3-RG4.

[0114] Assembly and amplification by PCR was carried out by mixing: 8 μL of RG1-RG2; 4 μL of RG2-RG3; 4 μL of RG3-RG4; 2 μL of 25 μM of oligonucleotide pcrG1; 1 μL of 25 μM G4-; 1 μL of 25 μM R4-; 5 μL 10× buffer; 5 μL 2 mM. dNTPs (each); 1 μL Vent; and H₂O was added to a final total volume of 50 μL. PCR was performed using the following touch-down conditions: 90 seconds at 95° C. followed by 20 cycles of three successive incubations for 15 seconds at 95° C., 20 seconds at 55 to 50° C. and 30 seconds at 72° C., followed by a 120 second incubation at 72° C.

[0115] The desired amplification product, referred to as RG1234, ( 320 bp) was observed by electrophoresis of an aliquot of the PCR reaction on an agarose gel. The PCR product was cloned into vector pCR2.1-TOPO (Invitrogen) according to the manufacturer's instructions. The PCR product was also cloned into plasmid pGFP (Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.) by restriction digestion of Kpn I and Bsr GI sites of both the vector and insert and ligation.

[0116] Random TOPO clones of RG1234 were sequenced using a model 310 Genetic Analyzer (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.) with sequencing reagents and instructions provided by the manufacturer. Sequencing of eight different clones revealed that they were the product of a stochastic assembly of oligonucleotides (see Table 1). Various combinations of building blocks were clearly observed. Most sequences carried some defects such as deletions or insertions. One sequence, RG9, showed only a few point mutations, providing an example of a sequence in which all junctions were perfect. Moreover, in contrast with the previous example, only one of the 24 junctions described in Table 1 (8 sequences×3 junctions each) had an unwanted ‘A’ insertion, showing the benefit of a multi-step ligation. TABLE 1 Sequencing results of random TOPO clones (RG1 to RG9) and functional pGFP clone (RG100) of RG1234. Oligonucleotide Oligonucleotide Oligonucleotide Oligonucleotide at sequence at sequence at sequence at sequence Clone position 1 position 2 position 3 position 4 name (comments) (comments) (comments) (comments) RG1 R1 (truncated 3′ R2 (no defects) R3 (no defects) R4 (1 point end) mutation) RG2 G1 (truncated 3′ R2 (no defects) R3 (A insert at 3′ G4 (2 point end) end) mutations) RG3 R1 (2 point R2 (no defects) R3 (3 nt deletion R4 (4 point mutations) at 5′ end and 7 nt mutations) deletion at 3′ end) RG4 R1 (1 point R2 (no defects) R3 (2 point R4 (no defects) mutation) mutations, 2 insertions, 1 C insertion at 3′ end) RG5 G1 (1 deletion, 1 R2 (no defects) R3 (no defects) R4 (1 point point mutation) mutation) RG7 R1 (trucated at 3′ R2 (last nt G3 (no defects) R4 (1 insertion, 1 end) deleted) point mutation) RG8 R1 (4 mutations, R2 (no defects) R3 (no defects) G4 (1 point 10 nt deleted at 3′ mutation) end) RG9 R1 (4 mutations) R2 (no defects) R3 (no defects) G4 (6 point mutations) RG100 G1 (no defects) G2 (no defects) G3 (no defects) G4 (no defects) (pGFP clone)

[0117] Clones of pGFP were screened for expression of functional synthetic GFP or functional GFP/RFP recombinants by assaying colonies for fluorescence under illumination at different wavelengths. Several clones showing fluorescence typical of WT GFP were identified readily. The DNA of one fluorescent clone, called RG100, was sequenced. Compared to wildtype (WT) GFP, this sequence was found to differ at one base. The difference was the mutation encoded in oligo G3 to distinguish WT GFP from clones resulting from the assembly process. RG100 therefore provides an example of, not only a functional sequence, but exactly the desired sequence resulting from the correct assembly of a combinatorial mixture of oligos. Also, the nine sequences described in this example illustrate that all 8 possible oligonucleotides were found in products of the assembly process.

Example 3 Oligonucleotide Design for the Preparation of Libraries from a Set of Phylogenetically Related Polynucleotides

[0118] Subtilisin Carlsberg, a member of the subtilase family of enzymes, from the organism Bacillus licheniformis is found to cleave an ester X. The goal is to improve the weak activity of this subtilisin towards substrate X.

[0119] The amino acid sequence of the enzyme (accession number 995625) was used to identify related sequences from the public database of sequences available online by performing a BLAST search (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/BLAST/). Twenty-five sequences were chosen manually from 100 sequences obtained in the BLAST search results. In an alternative embodiment, the selection process may be automated.

[0120] The 25 sequences were analyzed using ClustalW and the Phylip software package and it was found that the 25 sequences can be broken down into 5 families. One of these families (Savinase-related, accession number 119308) is only represented by a single member so an additional four sequences are added to the 25. A further analysis is performed using ClustalW v. 1.7 and the Phylip software package. The resulting phenogram is depicted in FIG. 3, showing the five family groups: family 1 corresponding to sequences related to Alcalase (subtilisin Carlsberg from Bacillus lichenifomis), family 2 corresponding to sequences related to chain A of the mesentericopeptidase (E.C.3.4.21.14) peptidyl peptide hydrolase complex (gi230163), family 3 corresponding to subtilisin BPN (subtilisin Novo; gi135015), family 4 corresponding to sequences distantly related to families 1 to 3, and family 5 corresponding to Savinase (gi267048) and related sequences such as the subtilisin of Bacillus lentus. FIGS. 4A-4M show ClustalW alignment of all 29 sequences where dashes indicate gaps in the alignment.

[0121] The sequence of subtilisin Carlsberg (family 1; gi1112768) is divided arbitrarily into 19 sequence fragments of 20 amino acids in length, or 60 bp at the nucleotide level. In an alternative embodiment, a more sophisticated approach could be taken to break down the sequence into fragments. For example, the 19 fragments could be modified so that their 5′ ends correspond to pyrimidines (which are preferred by T4 RNA ligase) but not purines. This would mean that fragments would generally be of slightly different lengths.

[0122] The sequences of family 1 were aligned together. Within families, differences between the sequences generally limit themselves to point mutations. Such slight differences can readily be encompassed by the assembly of degenerate oligonucleotides wherein two or more bases are simultaneously encoded by the DNA synthesizer used to make the oligonucleotide. In cases where more than simple single-nucleotide differences must be encoded by a degenerate oligonucleotide, the program CyberDope, available online at www.kairos-scientific.comlsearchable/cyberdope.html, can be used to design appropriate degenerate codons. These degenerate codons are selected by the program to encode complex combinations of amino acids. Oligonucleotides, including those that are degenerate, can be are commercially available from companies such as Operon Inc. (Alameda, Calif.). Therefore, the 7 sequences of family 1 were described by 19 oligonucleotides, most of which have 2 degenerate nucleotide positions. Oligonucleotide number 13 was the most complex, encoding 7 mutations requiring 8 nucleotide degeneracies. Although the combinatorial complexity of the 19 degenerate oligonucleotides exceeds 2⁴², or more than 4×10¹² possible sequences, the amino acid substitutions are quite conservative, such that most combinations will likely yield functional subtilisins with a variety of phenotypes.

[0123] Similarly, the sequences of family 3 are aligned. As with family 1, the sequences of family 3 differed generally by no more than 2 amino acids in each 20 amino acid sequence fragment. In fact, family 3 showed fewer mutations than family 1. The 5 sequences of family 3 can almost be described by 19 oligonucleotides, most of which have no degeneracies or only one. There are, however, three exceptions due to gaps in the alignment: oligonucleotides 1, 9 and 10. The first oligonucleotide (5′-most) cannot encode both sequences #135015 and #773560, as one is slightly shorter than the other at the 5′ end. Thus, two oligonucleotides (3F1a and 3F1b) were needed for this sequence position. Similarly, a gap in sequence #494621 must be encoded by specifying 4 different oligos: 3F9a, 3F9b, 3F10a and 3F10b. The apparent absence of sequence data at the 5′ end of sequences #2914658, 494620 and 494621 was due to the cleavage of a signal and prosequence. Thus, these were assumed to be identical to the sequences of#135015 and 773560.

[0124] Using the amino acid sequences encoded by the above polynuclotides of families 1 and 3, degenerate oligonucleotides were designed with the program CyberDope. The resulting oligonucleotides needed to synthesize the orf of families 1 and 3 are listed below. Oligonucleotides are numbered in the order in which they are to be assembled, from the 5′ to the 3′ end. Degeneracies are encoded according to the IUPAC code (described on p.234 of the 2000-2001 New England Biolabs catalog or avilable, for example, online at www.neb.com/neb/tech/tech_resource/miscellaneous/genetic_code.html. 1F1 ATGATGAGGAAAAAGAGTYTTTGGTTTGGGATGTT (SEQ ID NO:45) GACGGCCYTTATGCTCGTGTTCACG 1F2 ATGGMGTTCAGCGATTCCGCTTCTGCTGCTCAACC (SEQ ID NO:46) GGSGAAAAATGTTGAAAAGGATTAT 1F3 WTTGTCGGATTTAAGTCAGGAGTGAAAACCGCATC (SEQ ID NO:47) TGTCAAAAAGGACATCATCAAAGAG 1F4 AGCGGCGGAAAAGTGGACAAGCAGTTTAGAATCAT (SEQ ID NO:48) CAACGCGGSAAAAGCGACGCTAGAC 1F5 AAAGAAGCGCTTRAGGAAGTCAAAAATGATCCGGA (SEQ ID NO:49) TGTCGCTTATGTGGAAGAGGATCAT 1F6 GTGGSACATGBGTTGGSACAAACCGTTCCTTACGG (SEQ ID NO:50) CATTCCTCTCATTAAAGCGGACAAA 1F7 GTGCAGGCTCAAGGCTWTAAGGGAGCGAATGTAAA (SEQ ID NO:51) AGTAGCCGTCCTGGATACAGGAATC 1F8 CAAGCTTCTCATCCGGACTTGAACGTAGTCGGCGG (SEQ ID NO:52) AGCAAGCTTTGTGGCTGGCGAAGCT 1F9 TATAACACCGACGGCAACGGACACGGCACACATGT (SEQ ID NO:53) TGCCGGTACAGTAGCTGCGCTTGAC 1F10 AATACAACGGGTGTATTAGGCGTTGCGCCAARTGT (SEQ ID NO:54) ATCCTTGAWTGCGGTTAAAGTACTG 1F11 AATTCAAGCGGAAGCGGAASTTACAGCGSAATTGT (SEQ ID NO:55) AAGCGGAATCGAGTGGGYGACAACA 1F12 AMTGGCATGGATGTTATCAATATGAGCCTTGGGGG (SEQ ID NO:56) ASCATCAGKGTCGACAGCGATGAAA 1F13 CAGGCAGTCGACMATGCATATKCTARGGGGGYTGT (SEQ ID NO:57) CSYTGTAKCTKCTGCAGGGAACAGC 1F14 GGATCTTCAGGAWATACGAATACAATTGGCTATCC (SEQ ID NO:58) TGCGAAATRTGATTCTGTCATCSCG 1F15 GTTGGTGSGGWGGACTCTAACAGCAACAGAKCGTC (SEQ ID NO:59) ATTTTCCAGTGTGGGAGCAGAGCTT 1F16 GAAGTCATGGCTCCTGKGKCGGGCGTATACAGCAC (SEQ ID NO:60) TTACCCAACGARTACTTATRCGACA 1F17 TTGAACGGAACGTCAATGGCTTCTCCTCATGTAGC (SEQ ID NO:61) GGGARCGKCGGCTTTGATCTTGTCA 1F18 AAACATCCGAACCTTTCAGCTTCACAAGTCCGCAM (SEQ ID NO:62) TCGTCTCTCCAGKACGGCGACTTAT 1F19 TTGGGAAGCTCCTTCTMTTATGGGARGGGTCTGAT (SEQ ID NO:63) CAATGTCGAAGCTGCCGCTCAATAA

[0125] Following is a list of oligonucleotides necessary to assemble a library of family 3-related sequences. 3F1a ATGAGAGGCAAAAAAGTATGGATCAGTTTGCTGTT (SEQ ID NO:64) TGCTTTAGCGTTAATCTTTACG 3F1b ATGATCAGTTTGCTGTTTGCTTTAGCGTTAATCTT (SEQ ID NO:65) TACG 3F2 ATGGCGTTCGGCAGCACATCCTCTGCCCAGGCGGC (SEQ ID NO:66) AGGGAAATCAAACGGGGAAAAGAAATAT 3F3 ATTGTCGGGTTTAAACAGACAATGAGCACGATGAG (SEQ ID NO:67) CGCCGCTAAGAAGAAAGATGTCATTTCTGAA 3F4 AAAGGCGGGAAAGTGCAAAAGCAATTCAAATATGT (SEQ ID NO:68) AGACGCAGCTTCAGCTACATTAAAC 3F5 GAAAAAGCTGTAAAAGAATTGAAAAAAGACCCGAG (SEQ ID NO:69) CGTCGCTTTACGTTGAAGAAGAT 3F6 CACGTAGCACATGCGTACGCGCAGTCCGTGCCTTA (SEQ ID NO:70) CGGCGTATCACAAATTAAAGCCCCTGCT 3F7 CTGCACTCTCAAGGCTACWSTGGATCAAATGTTAA (SEQ ID NO:71) AGTAGCGGTTATCGACAGCGGTATC 3F8 GATTCTTCTCATCCTGATTTAAAGGTAGCAGGCGG (SEQ ID NO:72) AGCCAGCWTKGTTCCTTCTGAAACA 3F9a AATCCTTTCCAAGACAACAACTCTCACGGAACTCA (SEQ ID NO:73) CGTTGCCGGCACAGTTGCGGCTCTTAAT 3F9b AATCCTTTCCAAGACAACAACTCTCACGGAACTCA (SEQ ID NO:74) CGTTGCCGGCACAGTTGCGGCTGTT 3F10a AACTCAATCGGTGTATTAGGCGTTGCGCCAWGTGC (SEQ ID NO:75) ATCACTTTACGCTGTAAAAGTTCTC 3F10b GCGCCATCAGCATCACTTTACGCTGTAAAAGTTCTC (SEQ ID NO:76) 3F11 GGTGCTGACGGTTCCGGCCAATACAGCTGGATCAT (SEQ ID NO:77) TAACGGAATCGAGTGGGCGATCGCA 3F12 AACAATATGGACGTTATTAACATGAGCCTCGGCGG (SEQ ID NO:78) ACCTTCTGGTTCTGCTGCTTTAAAA 3F13 GCGGCAGTTGATAAAGCCGTTGCATCCGGCGTCGT (SEQ ID NO:79) AGTCGTTGCGGCAGCCGGTAACGAA 3F14 GGCACTTCCGGCAGCTCAAGCACAGTGGGCTACCC (SEQ ID NO:80) TGSGAAATACCCTTCTGTCATTGCA 3F15 GTAGGCGCTGTTGACAGCAGCAACCAAAGAGCATC (SEQ ID NO:81) TTTCTCAAGCGTAGGACCTGAGCTT 3F16 GATGTCATGGCACCTGGCGTATCTATCYRKAGCAC (SEQ ID NO:82) GCTTCCTGGAAACAAATACGGGGCG 3F17 WAKARTGGTACGTCAATGGCATCTCCGCACGTTGC (SEQ ID NO:83) CGGAGCGGCTGCTTTGATTCTTTCT 3F18 AAGCACCCGAACTGGACAAACACTCAAGTCCGCAG (SEQ ID NO:84) CAGTTTAGAAAACACCACTACAAAA 3F19 CTTGGTGATTCTTTCTACTATGGAAAAGGGCTGAT (SEQ ID NO:85) CAACGTACAGGCGGCAGCTCAGTAA

Example 4 Preparation of Libraries, Screening of Library Members, and Recursive Screening

[0126] At least three types of libraries of DNA molecules can be constructed based on the oligonucleotides designed in Example 3. One type of library encompasses the sequences of family 1, a second type of library describes family 3, and a third type of library can be constructed which combines the sequences of families 1 and 3. This latter library can be constructed by mixing in equal proportions the oligonucleotides designed for the synthesis of the first and second libraries. In order for this approach to work, the oligonucleotides designed from family 3 should be broken down at homologous sequence positions to the oligonucleotides from family 1. In consideration of the preparation of libraries incorporating both families 1 and 3, it is apparent that a single oligonucleotide requires a larger number of degenerate positions to encode sequences from both families, and that the combinatorial complexity thus generated may disrupt sequence motifs. This disruption of motifs may decrease unacceptably the proportion of functional sequences in the resulting library. Moreover, such large numbers of degenerate positions in an oligonucleotide may interfere with the assembly process, (i.e., during amplification). Thus, the practical issues of complexity must be weighed against the desire for diversity in the preparation of libraries.

[0127] Oligonucleotides representing families 2, and 5 are prepared in addition to the oligonucleotides of families 1 and 3 obtained in Example 3, and together are used to assemble a library according to the methods of the present invention, such as in Example 2. Members of family 4 are not included for simplicity. Care is taken to maintain degeneracies throughout the process (i.e., during amplification). The library encompasses four of the five families described in Example 3 (1, 2, 3, & 5) by mixing in equal proportions of oligonucleotides, one part from each family, at each position in the sequence. The assembly results in a combinatorial library encompassing families 1, 2, 3 & 5 by mixing IF1, 2F1, 3F1a, 3F1b, SF1 and linking this mixture to a mixture of 1F2, 2F2, 3F2, SF2, and so on. Roughly, not including degeneracies, the resulting library would encode over 4¹⁹, or 2.7×10¹¹ different possible sequences. Including degeneracies would increase the number well beyond 10¹² sequences.

[0128] Using standard methods, the resulting polynucleotide libraries are cloned into an expression vector and expressed in E. coli or Bacillus subtilis. High throughput screening for subtilase activity is carried out according to Ness et al., Nature Biotechnology, 1999, 17, 893, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. A fluorescent derivative analogous to quenched BODIPY dye-labeled casein is prepared with the compound of interest (ester X in this case) (Jones, et al., Anal. Biochem., 1997, 251, 144, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety) and used as a substrate to identify new subtilase variants with improved activity towards this substrate. Regardless of the methods used, only a small proportion of the vast number of possible sequences can be screened for activity. Consequently, it is quite possible that the optimal sequence (i.e., the enzyme best able to use compound X as a substrate) will not be rapidly found. Instead, a small population of enzyme variants with some improved ability to catalyze the reaction of interest will be identified.

[0129] The individuals of this small population are characterized by DNA sequencing of the gene encoding the improved variant according to standard methods. It is then determined that this population is predominantly composed of, in a first group of positions along the sequence, oligonucleotides from family 1. Also, it is found that, at a second group of positions along the sequence, the population is composed mostly of oligonucleotides from family 3. Using this information, a new combinatorial library of polynucleotides is synthesized wherein the first group of positions are synthesized exclusively using oligos from family 1 and the second group of positions exclusively using oligonucleotides from family 3. The resulting combinatorial mixture of polynucleotides is cloned and expressed as before and assayed as before. New variants with superior properties (in this case, greater activity towards substrate X) to the original population of variants are found. If necessary, these variants may be used to design a further combinatorial population of variants.

1 85 1 377 PRT Bacillus alcalophilus 1 Met Lys Lys Pro Leu Gly Lys Ile Val Ala Ser Thr Ala Leu Leu Ile 1 5 10 15 Ser Val Ala Phe Ser Ser Ser Ile Ala Ser Ala Ala Glu Glu Ala Lys 20 25 30 Glu Lys Tyr Leu Ile Gly Phe Asn Glu Gln Glu Ala Val Ser Glu Phe 35 40 45 Val Glu Ala Asn Asp Glu Val Ala Ile Leu Ser Glu Glu Glu Glu Val 50 55 60 Glu Ile Glu Leu Leu His Glu Phe Glu Thr Ile Pro Val Leu Ser Val 65 70 75 80 Glu Leu Ser Pro Glu Asp Val Asp Ala Leu Glu Leu Asp Pro Ala Ile 85 90 95 Ser Tyr Ile Glu Glu Asp Ala Glu Val Thr Thr Met Ala Gln Ser Val 100 105 110 Pro Trp Gly Ile Ser Arg Val Gln Ala Pro Ala Ala His Asn Arg Gly 115 120 125 Leu Thr Gly Ser Gly Val Lys Val Ala Val Leu Asp Thr Gly Ile Ser 130 135 140 Thr His Pro Asp Leu Asn Ile Arg Gly Gly Ala Ser Phe Val Pro Gly 145 150 155 160 Glu Pro Ser Thr Gln Asp Gly Asn Gly His Gly Thr His Val Ala Gly 165 170 175 Thr Ile Ala Ala Leu Asn Asn Ser Ile Gly Val Leu Gly Val Ala Pro 180 185 190 Asn Ala Glu Leu Tyr Ala Val Lys Val Leu Gly Ala Ser Gly Ser Gly 195 200 205 Ser Val Ser Ser Ile Ala Gln Gly Leu Glu Trp Ala Gly Asn Asn Gly 210 215 220 Met His Val Ala Asn Leu Ser Leu Gly Ser Pro Ser Pro Ser Ala Thr 225 230 235 240 Leu Glu Gln Ala Val Asn Ser Ala Thr Ser Arg Gly Val Leu Val Val 245 250 255 Ala Ala Ser Gly Asn Ser Gly Ala Gly Ser Ile Ser Tyr Pro Ala Arg 260 265 270 Tyr Ala Asn Ala Met Ala Val Gly Ala Thr Asp Gln Asn Asn Asn Arg 275 280 285 Ala Ser Phe Ser Gln Tyr Gly Ala Gly Leu Asp Ile Val Ala Pro Gly 290 295 300 Val Asn Val Gln Ser Thr Tyr Pro Gly Ser Thr Tyr Ala Ser Leu Asn 305 310 315 320 Gly Thr Ser Met Ala Thr Pro His Val Ala Gly Ala Ala Ala Leu Val 325 330 335 Lys Gln Lys Asn Pro Ser Trp Ser Asn Val Gln Ile Arg Asn His Leu 340 345 350 Lys Asn Thr Ala Thr Ser Leu Gly Ser Thr Asn Leu Tyr Gly Ser Gly 355 360 365 Leu Val Asn Ala Glu Ala Ala Thr Arg 370 375 2 271 PRT Bacillus lentus 2 Ala Gln Ser Val Pro Trp Gly Ile Ser Arg Val Gln Ala Pro Ala Ala 1 5 10 15 His Asn Arg Gly Leu Thr Gly Ser Gly Val Lys Val Ala Val Leu Asp 20 25 30 Thr Gly Ile Ser Thr His Pro Asp Leu Asn Ile Arg Gly Gly Ala Ser 35 40 45 Phe Val Pro Gly Glu Pro Ser Thr Gln Asp Gly Asn Gly His Gly Thr 50 55 60 His Val Ala Gly Thr Ile Ala Ala Leu Asn Asn Ser Ile Gly Val Leu 65 70 75 80 Gly Val Ala Pro Ser Ala Glu Leu Tyr Ala Val Lys Val Leu Gly Ala 85 90 95 Ser Gly Ser Gly Ser Gly Ser Val Ser Ser Ile Ala Gln Gly Leu Glu 100 105 110 Trp Ala Gly Asn Asn Gly Met His Val Ala Asn Leu Ser Leu Gly Ser 115 120 125 Pro Ser Pro Ser Ala Thr Leu Glu Gln Ala Val Asn Ser Ala Thr Ser 130 135 140 Arg Gly Val Leu Val Val Ala Ala Ser Gly Asn Ser Gly Ala Gly Ser 145 150 155 160 Ile Ser Tyr Pro Ala Arg Tyr Ala Asn Ala Met Ala Val Gly Ala Thr 165 170 175 Asp Gln Asn Asn Asn Arg Ala Ser Phe Ser Gln Tyr Gly Ala Gly Leu 180 185 190 Asp Ile Val Ala Pro Gly Val Asn Val Gln Ser Thr Tyr Pro Gly Ser 195 200 205 Thr Tyr Ala Ser Leu Asn Gly Thr Ser Met Ala Thr Pro His Val Ala 210 215 220 Gly Ala Ala Ala Leu Val Lys Gln Lys Asn Pro Ser Trp Ser Asn Val 225 230 235 240 Gln Ile Arg Asn His Leu Lys Asn Thr Ala Thr Ser Leu Gly Ser Thr 245 250 255 Asn Leu Tyr Gly Ser Gly Leu Val Asn Ala Glu Ala Ala Thr Arg 260 265 270 3 269 PRT Bacillus sp. KSM-K16 3 Ala Gln Ser Val Pro Trp Gly Ile Ser Arg Val Gln Ala Pro Ala Ala 1 5 10 15 His Asn Arg Gly Leu Thr Gly Ser Gly Val Lys Val Ala Val Leu Asp 20 25 30 Thr Gly Ile Ser Thr His Pro Asp Leu Asn Ile Arg Gly Gly Ala Ser 35 40 45 Phe Val Pro Gly Glu Pro Ser Thr Gln Asp Gly Asn Gly His Gly Thr 50 55 60 His Val Ala Gly Thr Ile Ala Ala Leu Asn Asn Ser Ile Gly Val Leu 65 70 75 80 Gly Val Ala Pro Ser Ala Glu Leu Tyr Ala Val Lys Val Leu Gly Ala 85 90 95 Ser Gly Ser Gly Ser Val Ser Ser Ile Ala Gln Gly Leu Glu Trp Ala 100 105 110 Gly Asn Asn Gly Met His Val Ala Asn Leu Ser Leu Gly Ser Pro Ser 115 120 125 Pro Ser Ala Thr Leu Glu Gln Ala Val Asn Ser Ala Thr Ser Arg Gly 130 135 140 Val Leu Val Val Ala Ala Ser Gly Asn Ser Gly Ala Gly Ser Ile Ser 145 150 155 160 Tyr Pro Ala Arg Tyr Ala Asn Ala Met Ala Val Gly Ala Thr Asp Gln 165 170 175 Asn Asn Asn Arg Ala Ser Phe Gln Tyr Gly Ala Gly Leu Asp Ile Val 180 185 190 Ala Pro Gly Val Asn Val Gln Ser Thr Tyr Pro Gly Ser Thr Tyr Ala 195 200 205 Ser Leu Asn Gly Thr Ser Met Ala Thr Pro His Val Ala Gly Val Ala 210 215 220 Ala Ala Leu Val Lys Gln Lys Asn Pro Ser Trp Ser Asn Val Gln Ile 225 230 235 240 Arg Asn His Leu Lys Asn Thr Ala Thr Gly Leu Gly Asn Thr Asn Leu 245 250 255 Tyr Gly Ser Gly Leu Val Asn Ala Glu Ala Ala Thr Arg 260 265 4 269 PRT Bacillus lentus UNSURE (215)..(215) X is unknown 4 Ala Gln Ser Val Pro Trp Gly Ile Ser Arg Val Gln Ala Pro Ala Ala 1 5 10 15 His Asn Arg Gly Leu Thr Gly Ser Gly Val Lys Val Ala Val Leu Asp 20 25 30 Thr Gly Ile Ser Thr His Pro Asp Leu Asn Ile Arg Gly Gly Ala Ser 35 40 45 Phe Val Pro Gly Glu Pro Ser Thr Gln Asp Gly Asn Gly His Gly Thr 50 55 60 His Val Ala Gly Thr Ile Ala Ala Leu Asp Asn Ser Ile Gly Val Leu 65 70 75 80 Gly Val Ala Pro Ser Ala Glu Leu Tyr Ala Val Lys Val Leu Gly Ala 85 90 95 Ser Gly Ser Gly Ala Ile Ser Ser Ile Ala Gln Gly Leu Glu Trp Ala 100 105 110 Gly Asn Asn Gly Met His Val Ala Asn Leu Ser Leu Gly Ser Pro Ser 115 120 125 Pro Ser Ala Thr Leu Glu Gln Ala Val Asn Ser Ala Thr Ser Arg Gly 130 135 140 Val Leu Val Val Ala Ala Ser Gly Asn Ser Gly Ala Gly Ser Ile Ser 145 150 155 160 Tyr Pro Ala Arg Tyr Ala Asn Ala Met Ala Val Gly Ala Thr Asp Gln 165 170 175 Asn Asn Asn Arg Ala Ser Phe Ser Gln Tyr Gly Ala Gly Leu Asp Ile 180 185 190 Val Ala Pro Gly Val Asn Val Gln Ser Thr Tyr Pro Gly Ser Thr Tyr 195 200 205 Ala Ser Leu Asn Gly Thr Xaa Met Ala Thr Pro His Val Ala Gly Ala 210 215 220 Ala Ala Leu Val Lys Gln Lys Asn Pro Ser Trp Ser Asn Val Gln Ile 225 230 235 240 Arg Asn His Leu Lys Asn Thr Ala Thr Ser Leu Gly Ser Thr Asn Leu 245 250 255 Tyr Gly Ser Gly Leu Val Asn Ala Glu Ala Ala Thr Arg 260 265 5 269 PRT Bacillus lentus 5 Ala Gln Ser Val Pro Trp Gly Ile Ser Arg Val Gln Ala Pro Ala Ala 1 5 10 15 His Asn Arg Gly Leu Thr Gly Ser Gly Val Lys Val Ala Val Leu Asp 20 25 30 Thr Gly Ile Ser Thr His Pro Asp Leu Asn Ile Arg Gly Gly Ala Ser 35 40 45 Phe Val Pro Gly Glu Pro Ser Thr Gln Asp Gly Asn Gly His Gly Thr 50 55 60 His Val Ala Gly Thr Ile Ala Ala Leu Asn Asn Ser Ile Gly Val Leu 65 70 75 80 Gly Val Ala Pro Ser Ala Glu Leu Tyr Ala Val Lys Val Leu Gly Ala 85 90 95 Asp Gly Arg Gly Ala Ile Ser Ser Ile Ala Gln Gly Leu Glu Trp Ala 100 105 110 Gly Asn Asn Gly Met His Val Ala Asn Leu Ser Leu Gly Ser Pro Ser 115 120 125 Pro Ser Ala Thr Leu Glu Gln Ala Val Asn Ser Ala Thr Ser Arg Gly 130 135 140 Val Leu Val Val Ala Ala Ser Gly Asn Ser Gly Ala Ser Ser Ile Ser 145 150 155 160 Tyr Pro Ala Arg Tyr Ala Asn Ala Met Ala Val Gly Ala Thr Asp Gln 165 170 175 Asn Asn Asn Arg Ala Ser Phe Ser Gln Tyr Gly Ala Gly Leu Asp Ile 180 185 190 Val Ala Pro Gly Val Asn Val Gln Ser Thr Tyr Pro Gly Ser Thr Tyr 195 200 205 Ala Ser Leu Asn Gly Thr Ser Met Ala Thr Pro His Val Ala Gly Ala 210 215 220 Ala Ala Leu Val Lys Gln Lys Asn Pro Ser Trp Ser Asn Val Gln Ile 225 230 235 240 Arg Asn His Leu Lys Asn Thr Ala Thr Ser Leu Gly Ser Thr Asn Leu 245 250 255 Tyr Gly Ser Gly Leu Val Asn Ala Glu Ala Ala Thr Arg 260 265 6 379 PRT Bacillus sp. 6 Met Asn Lys Lys Met Gly Lys Ile Val Ala Gly Thr Ala Leu Ile Ile 1 5 10 15 Ser Val Ala Phe Ser Ser Ser Ile Ala Gln Ala Ala Glu Glu Ala Lys 20 25 30 Glu Lys Tyr Leu Ile Gly Phe Lys Glu Gln Glu Val Met Ser Gln Phe 35 40 45 Val Asp Gln Ile Asp Gly Asp Glu Tyr Ser Ile Ser Ser Ser Gln Val 50 55 60 Glu Asp Val Glu Ile Asp Leu Leu His Glu Phe Asp Phe Ile Pro Val 65 70 75 80 Leu Ser Val Glu Leu Asp Pro Gln Asp Val Glu Ala Leu Glu Leu Asp 85 90 95 Pro Ala Ile Ser Tyr Ile Glu Glu Asp Ala Glu Val Thr Thr Met Gln 100 105 110 Thr Val Pro Trp Gly Ile Asn Arg Val Gln Ala Pro Ile Ala Gln Ser 115 120 125 Arg Gly Phe Thr Gly Thr Gly Val Arg Val Ala Val Leu Asp Thr Gly 130 135 140 Ile Ser Asn His Ala Asp Leu Arg Ile Arg Gly Gly Ala Ser Phe Val 145 150 155 160 Pro Gly Glu Pro Asn Ile Ser Asp Gly Asn Gly His Gly Thr His Val 165 170 175 Ala Gly Thr Ile Ala Ala Leu Asn Asn Ser Ile Gly Val Leu Gly Val 180 185 190 Ala Pro Asn Val Asp Leu Tyr Gly Val Lys Val Leu Gly Ala Ser Gly 195 200 205 Ser Gly Ser Ile Ser Gly Ile Ala Gln Gly Leu Gln Trp Ala Ala Asn 210 215 220 Asn Gly Met His Ile Ala Asn Met Ser Leu Gly Ser Ser Ser Ala Gly 225 230 235 240 Ser Ala Thr Met Glu Gln Ala Val Asn Gln Ala Thr Ala Ser Gly Val 245 250 255 Leu Val Val Ala Ala Ser Gly Asn Ser Gly Ala Gly Asn Val Gly Phe 260 265 270 Pro Ala Arg Tyr Ala Asn Ala Met Ala Val Gly Ala Thr Asp Gln Asn 275 280 285 Asn Asn Arg Ala Ser Phe Ser Gln Tyr Gly Ala Gly Leu Asp Ile Val 290 295 300 Ala Pro Gly Val Gly Val Gln Ser Thr Val Pro Gly Asn Gly Tyr Ser 305 310 315 320 Ser Phe Asn Gly Thr Ser Met Ala Thr Pro His Val Ala Val Gly Ala 325 330 335 Ala Leu Val Lys Gln Lys Asn Pro Ser Trp Ser Asn Val Gln Ile Arg 340 345 350 Asn His Leu Lys Asn Thr Ala Thr Asn Leu Gly Asn Thr Asn Gln Phe 355 360 365 Ser Gly Leu Val Asn Ala Glu Ala Ala Thr Arg 370 375 7 382 PRT Bacillus sp. 7 Met Lys Lys Leu Phe Thr Lys Val Val Ala Ser Ala Ala Leu Leu Leu 1 5 10 15 Ser Ile Ser Leu Thr Ala Thr Ser Val Ser Ala Glu Glu Gln Lys Lys 20 25 30 Gln Tyr Leu Ile Gly Phe Glu Asn Gln Leu Gln Val Thr Glu Phe Val 35 40 45 Glu Ser Ser Asp Lys Gly Gln Ser Glu Met Ser Leu Phe Ala Glu Val 50 55 60 Asn Asp Glu Ser Ile Glu Met Glu Leu Leu Tyr Glu Phe Glu Asp Ile 65 70 75 80 Pro Val Val Ser Val Glu Leu Ser Pro Glu Asp Val Lys Asp Leu Glu 85 90 95 Lys Asp Pro Ser Ile Thr Tyr Ile Glu Glu Asp Ile Glu Val Thr Ile 100 105 110 Thr Asn Gln Val Thr Pro Trp Gly Ile Thr Arg Val Gln Ala Pro Thr 115 120 125 Ala Trp Thr Arg Gly Tyr Thr Gly Thr Gly Val Arg Val Ala Val Leu 130 135 140 Asp Thr Gly Ile Ser Thr His Pro Asp Leu Asn Ile Arg Gly Gly Val 145 150 155 160 Ser Phe Val Pro Gly Glu Pro Ser Tyr Gln Asp Gly Asn Gly His Gly 165 170 175 Thr His Val Ala Gly Thr Ile Ala Ala Leu Asn Asn Ser Ile Gly Val 180 185 190 Val Gly Val Ala Pro Asn Ala Glu Leu Tyr Ala Val Lys Val Leu Gly 195 200 205 Ala Asn Gly Ser Gly Ser Val Ser Ser Ile Ala Gln Gly Leu Gln Trp 210 215 220 Thr Ala Gln Asn Asn Ile His Val Ala Asn Leu Ser Leu Gly Ser Pro 225 230 235 240 Val Gly Ser Gln Thr Leu Glu Leu Ala Val Asn Gln Ala Thr Asn Ala 245 250 255 Gly Val Leu Val Val Ala Ala Thr Gly Asn Asn Gly Ser Gly Thr Val 260 265 270 Ser Tyr Pro Ala Arg Tyr Ala Asn Ala Leu Ala Val Gly Ala Thr Asp 275 280 285 Gln Asn Asn Asn Arg Ala Ser Phe Ser Gln Tyr Gly Thr Gly Leu Asn 290 295 300 Ile Val Ala Pro Gly Val Gly Ile Gln Ser Thr Tyr Pro Gly Asn Arg 305 310 315 320 Tyr Ala Ser Leu Ser Gly Thr Ser Met Ala Thr Pro His Val Ala Gly 325 330 335 Val Ala Ala Leu Val Lys Gln Lys Asn Pro Ser Trp Ser Asn Thr Gln 340 345 350 Ile Arg Gln His Leu Thr Ser Thr Ala Thr Ser Leu Gly Asn Ser Asn 355 360 365 Gln Phe Gly Ser Gly Leu Val Asn Ala Glu Ala Ala Thr Arg 370 375 380 8 375 PRT Bacillus sp. 8 Met Asn Leu Gln Lys Ile Arg Ser Ala Leu Lys Val Lys Gln Ser Ala 1 5 10 15 Leu Val Ser Ser Leu Thr Ile Leu Phe Leu Ile Met Leu Val Gly Thr 20 25 30 Thr Ser Ala Asn Gly Ala Lys Gln Glu Tyr Leu Ile Gly Phe Asn Ser 35 40 45 Asp Lys Ala Lys Gly Leu Ile Gln Asn Ala Gly Gly Glu Ile His His 50 55 60 Glu Tyr Thr Glu Phe Pro Val Ile Tyr Ala Glu Leu Pro Glu Ala Ala 65 70 75 80 Val Ser Gly Leu Lys Asn Asn Pro His Ile Asp Phe Ile Glu Glu Asn 85 90 95 Glu Glu Val Glu Ile Ala Gln Thr Val Pro Trp Gly Ile Pro Tyr Ile 100 105 110 Tyr Ser Asp Val Val His Arg Gln Gly Tyr Phe Gly Asn Gly Val Lys 115 120 125 Val Ala Val Leu Asp Thr Gly Val Ala Pro His Pro Asp Leu His Ile 130 135 140 Arg Gly Gly Val Ala Ser Phe Ile Ser Thr Glu Asn Thr Tyr Val Asp 145 150 155 160 Tyr Asn Gly His Gly Thr His Val Ala Gly Thr Val Ala Ala Leu Asn 165 170 175 Asn Ser Tyr Gly Val Leu Gly Val Ala Pro Gly Ala Glu Leu Tyr Ala 180 185 190 Val Lys Val Leu Asp Arg Asn Gly Ser Gly Ser His Ala Ser Ile Ala 195 200 205 Gln Gly Ile Glu Trp Ala Met Asn Asn Gly Met Asp Ile Ala Asn Met 210 215 220 Ser Leu Gly Ser Pro Ser Gly Ser Thr Thr Leu Gln Leu Ala Ala Asp 225 230 235 240 Arg Ala Arg Asn Ala Gly Val Leu Leu Ile Gly Ala Ala Gly Asn Ser 245 250 255 Gly Gln Gln Gly Gly Ser Asn Asn Met Gly Tyr Pro Ala Arg Tyr Ala 260 265 270 Ser Val Met Ala Val Gly Ala Val Asp Gln Asn Gly Asn Arg Ala Asn 275 280 285 Phe Ser Ser Tyr Gly Ser Glu Leu Glu Ile Met Ala Pro Gly Val Asn 290 295 300 Ile Asn Ser Thr Tyr Leu Asn Asn Gly Tyr Arg Ser Leu Asn Gly Thr 305 310 315 320 Ser Met Ala Ser Pro His Val Ala Gly Val Ala Ala Leu Val Lys Gln 325 330 335 Lys His Pro His Leu Thr Ala Ala Gln Ile Arg Asn Arg Met Asn Gln 340 345 350 Thr Ala Ile Pro Leu Gly Asn Ser Thr Tyr Tyr Gly Asn Gly Leu Val 355 360 365 Asp Ala Glu Tyr Ala Ala Gln 370 375 9 372 PRT Bacillus licheniformis 9 Met Met Arg Lys Lys Ser Phe Trp Leu Gly Met Leu Thr Ala Phe Met 1 5 10 15 Leu Val Phe Thr Met Ala Phe Ser Asp Ser Ala Ser Ala Ala Gln Pro 20 25 30 Ala Lys Asn Val Glu Lys Asp Tyr Ile Val Gly Phe Lys Ser Gly Val 35 40 45 Lys Thr Ala Ser Val Lys Lys Asp Ile Ile Lys Glu Ser Gly Gly Lys 50 55 60 Val Asp Lys Gln Phe Arg Ile Ile Asn Ala Ala Lys Ala Lys Leu Asp 65 70 75 80 Glu Ala Leu Lys Glu Val Lys Asn Asp Pro Val Ala Tyr Val Glu Glu 85 90 95 Asp His Val Ala His Ala Leu Ala Gln Thr Val Pro Tyr Gly Ile Pro 100 105 110 Leu Ile Lys Ala Asp Lys Val Gln Ala Gln Gly Phe Lys Gly Ala Asn 115 120 125 Val Lys Val Ala Val Leu Asp Thr Gly Ile Gln Ala Ser His Pro Asp 130 135 140 Leu Asn Val Val Gly Gly Ala Ser Phe Val Ala Gly Glu Ala Tyr Asn 145 150 155 160 Thr Asp Gly Asn Gly His Gly Thr His Val Ala Gly Thr Val Ala Ala 165 170 175 Leu Asp Asn Thr Thr Gly Val Leu Gly Val Ala Pro Ser Val Ser Leu 180 185 190 Tyr Ala Val Lys Val Leu Asn Ser Ser Gly Ser Gly Ser Tyr Ser Gly 195 200 205 Ile Val Ser Gly Ile Glu Trp Ala Thr Thr Asn Gly Met Asp Val Ile 210 215 220 Asn Met Ser Leu Gly Gly Ala Ser Gly Ser Thr Ala Met Lys Gln Ala 225 230 235 240 Val Asp Asn Ala Tyr Ala Lys Gly Val Val Val Val Ala Ala Ala Gly 245 250 255 Asn Ser Gly Ser Ser Gly Asn Thr Asn Thr Ile Gly Tyr Pro Ala Lys 260 265 270 Tyr Asp Ser Val Ile Ala Val Gly Ala Val Asp Ser Asn Ser Asn Arg 275 280 285 Ala Ser Phe Ser Ser Val Gly Ala Glu Leu Glu Val Met Ala Pro Gly 290 295 300 Ala Gly Val Tyr Ser Thr Tyr Pro Thr Asn Thr Tyr Ala Thr Leu Asn 305 310 315 320 Gly Thr Ser Met Ala Ser Pro His Val Ala Gly Ala Ala Ala Leu Ile 325 330 335 Leu Ser Lys His Pro Asn Leu Ser Ala Ser Gln Val Arg Asn Arg Leu 340 345 350 Ser Ser Thr Ala Thr Tyr Leu Gly Ser Ser Phe Tyr Tyr Gly Lys Gly 355 360 365 Leu Ile Asn Val 370 10 379 PRT Bacillus licheniformis 10 Met Met Arg Lys Lys Ser Phe Trp Leu Gly Met Leu Thr Ala Phe Met 1 5 10 15 Leu Val Phe Thr Met Ala Phe Ser Asp Ser Ala Ser Ala Ala Gln Pro 20 25 30 Ala Lys Asn Val Glu Lys Asp Tyr Ile Val Gly Phe Lys Ser Gly Val 35 40 45 Lys Thr Ala Ser Val Lys Lys Asp Ile Ile Lys Glu Ser Gly Gly Lys 50 55 60 Val Asp Lys Gln Phe Arg Ile Ile Asn Ala Ala Lys Ala Lys Leu Asp 65 70 75 80 Lys Glu Ala Leu Lys Glu Val Lys Asn Asp Pro Asp Val Ala Tyr Val 85 90 95 Glu Glu Asp His Val Ala His Ala Leu Ala Gln Thr Val Pro Tyr Gly 100 105 110 Ile Pro Leu Ile Lys Ala Asp Lys Val Gln Ala Gln Gly Phe Lys Gly 115 120 125 Ala Asn Val Lys Val Ala Val Leu Asp Thr Gly Ile Gln Ala Ser His 130 135 140 Pro Asp Leu Asn Val Val Gly Gly Ala Ser Phe Val Ala Gly Glu Ala 145 150 155 160 Tyr Asn Thr Asp Gly Asn Gly His Gly Thr His Val Ala Gly Thr Val 165 170 175 Ala Ala Leu Asp Asn Thr Thr Gly Val Leu Gly Val Ala Pro Ser Val 180 185 190 Ser Leu Tyr Ala Val Lys Val Leu Asn Ser Ser Gly Ser Gly Thr Tyr 195 200 205 Ser Gly Ile Val Ser Gly Ile Glu Trp Ala Thr Thr Asn Gly Met Asp 210 215 220 Val Ile Asn Met Ser Leu Gly Gly Pro Ser Gly Ser Thr Ala Met Lys 225 230 235 240 Gln Ala Val Asp Asn Ala Tyr Ala Arg Gly Val Val Val Val Ala Ala 245 250 255 Ala Gly Asn Ser Gly Ser Ser Gly Asn Thr Asn Thr Ile Gly Tyr Pro 260 265 270 Ala Lys Tyr Asp Ser Val Ile Ala Val Gly Ala Val Asp Ser Asn Ser 275 280 285 Asn Arg Ala Ser Phe Ser Ser Val Gly Ala Glu Leu Glu Val Met Ala 290 295 300 Pro Gly Ala Gly Val Tyr Ser Thr Tyr Pro Thr Ser Thr Tyr Ala Thr 305 310 315 320 Leu Asn Gly Thr Ser Met Ala Ser Pro His Val Ala Gly Ala Ala Ala 325 330 335 Leu Ile Leu Ser Lys His Pro Asn Leu Ser Ala Ser Gln Val Arg Asn 340 345 350 Arg Leu Ser Ser Thr Ala Thr Tyr Leu Gly Ser Ser Phe Tyr Tyr Gly 355 360 365 Lys Gly Leu Ile Asn Val Glu Ala Ala Ala Gln 370 375 11 379 PRT Bacillus licheniformis 11 Met Met Arg Lys Lys Ser Phe Trp Leu Gly Met Leu Thr Ala Leu Met 1 5 10 15 Leu Val Phe Thr Met Ala Phe Ser Asp Ser Ala Ser Ala Ala Gln Pro 20 25 30 Ala Lys Asn Val Glu Lys Asp Tyr Ile Val Gly Phe Lys Ser Gly Val 35 40 45 Lys Thr Ala Ser Val Lys Lys Asp Ile Ile Lys Glu Ser Gly Gly Lys 50 55 60 Val Asp Lys Gln Phe Arg Ile Ile Asn Ala Ala Lys Ala Lys Leu Asp 65 70 75 80 Lys Glu Ala Leu Glu Glu Val Lys Asn Asp Pro Asp Val Ala Tyr Val 85 90 95 Glu Glu Asp His Val Ala His Ala Leu Ala Gln Thr Val Pro Tyr Gly 100 105 110 Ile Pro Leu Ile Lys Ala Asp Lys Val Gln Ala Gln Gly Tyr Lys Gly 115 120 125 Ala Asn Val Lys Val Ala Val Leu Asp Thr Gly Ile Gln Ala Ser His 130 135 140 Pro Asp Leu Asn Val Val Gly Gly Ala Ser Phe Val Ala Gly Glu Ala 145 150 155 160 Tyr Asn Thr Asp Gly Asn Gly His Gly Thr His Val Ala Gly Thr Val 165 170 175 Ala Ala Leu Asp Asn Thr Thr Gly Val Leu Gly Val Ala Pro Asn Val 180 185 190 Ser Leu Tyr Ala Val Lys Val Leu Asn Ser Ser Gly Ser Gly Ser Tyr 195 200 205 Ser Gly Ile Val Ser Gly Ile Glu Trp Ala Thr Thr Asn Gly Met Asp 210 215 220 Val Ile Asn Met Ser Leu Gly Gly Pro Ser Gly Ser Thr Ala Met Lys 225 230 235 240 Gln Ala Val Asp Asn Ala Tyr Ala Arg Gly Val Val Val Val Ala Ala 245 250 255 Ala Gly Asn Ser Gly Ser Ser Gly Asn Thr Asn Thr Ile Gly Tyr Pro 260 265 270 Ala Lys Tyr Asp Ser Val Ile Ala Val Gly Ala Val Asp Ser Asn Ser 275 280 285 Asn Arg Ala Ser Phe Ser Ser Val Gly Ala Glu Leu Glu Val Met Ala 290 295 300 Pro Gly Ala Gly Val Tyr Ser Thr Tyr Pro Thr Ser Thr Tyr Ala Thr 305 310 315 320 Leu Asn Gly Thr Ser Met Ala Ser Pro His Val Ala Gly Ala Ala Ala 325 330 335 Leu Ile Leu Ser Lys His Pro Asn Leu Ser Ala Ser Gln Val Arg Asn 340 345 350 Arg Leu Ser Ser Thr Ala Thr Tyr Leu Gly Ser Ser Phe Tyr Tyr Gly 355 360 365 Lys Gly Leu Ile Asn Val Glu Ala Ala Ala Gln 370 375 12 379 PRT Bacillus licheniformis 12 Met Met Arg Lys Lys Ser Phe Trp Leu Gly Met Leu Thr Ala Phe Met 1 5 10 15 Leu Val Phe Thr Met Ala Phe Ser Asp Ser Ala Ser Ala Ala Gln Pro 20 25 30 Ala Lys Asn Val Glu Lys Asp Tyr Ile Val Gly Phe Lys Ser Gly Val 35 40 45 Lys Thr Ala Ser Val Lys Lys Asp Ile Ile Lys Glu Ser Gly Gly Lys 50 55 60 Val Asp Lys Gln Phe Arg Ile Ile Asn Ala Ala Lys Ala Lys Leu Asp 65 70 75 80 Lys Glu Ala Leu Lys Glu Val Lys Asn Asp Pro Asp Val Ala Tyr Val 85 90 95 Glu Glu Asp His Val Gly His Gly Leu Gly Gln Thr Val Pro Tyr Gly 100 105 110 Ile Pro Leu Ile Lys Ala Asp Lys Val Gln Ala Gln Gly Phe Lys Gly 115 120 125 Ala Asn Val Lys Val Ala Val Leu Asp Thr Gly Ile Gln Ala Ser His 130 135 140 Pro Asp Leu Asn Val Val Gly Gly Ala Ser Phe Val Ala Gly Glu Ala 145 150 155 160 Tyr Asn Thr Asp Gly Asn Gly His Gly Thr His Val Ala Gly Thr Val 165 170 175 Ala Ala Leu Asp Asn Thr Thr Gly Val Leu Gly Val Ala Pro Ser Val 180 185 190 Ser Leu Tyr Ala Val Lys Val Leu Asn Ser Ser Gly Ser Gly Ser Tyr 195 200 205 Ser Gly Ile Val Ser Gly Ile Glu Trp Val Thr Thr Asn Gly Met Asp 210 215 220 Val Ile Asn Met Ser Leu Gly Gly Ala Ser Gly Ser Thr Ala Met Lys 225 230 235 240 Gln Ala Val Asp Asn Ala Tyr Ala Arg Gly Val Val Val Val Ala Ala 245 250 255 Ala Gly Asn Ser Gly Ser Ser Gly Asn Thr Asn Thr Ile Gly Tyr Pro 260 265 270 Ala Lys Cys Asp Ser Val Ile Pro Val Gly Gly Glu Asp Ser Asn Ser 275 280 285 Asn Arg Ser Ser Phe Ser Ser Val Gly Ala Glu Leu Glu Val Met Ala 290 295 300 Pro Val Ser Gly Val Tyr Ser Thr Tyr Pro Thr Asn Thr Tyr Thr Thr 305 310 315 320 Leu Asn Gly Thr Ser Met Ala Ser Pro His Val Ala Gly Thr Ser Ala 325 330 335 Leu Ile Leu Ser Lys His Pro Asn Leu Ser Ala Ser Gln Val Arg Asn 340 345 350 Arg Leu Ser Arg Thr Ala Thr Tyr Leu Gly Ser Ser Phe Tyr Tyr Gly 355 360 365 Lys Gly Leu Ile Asn Val Glu Ala Ala Ala Gln 370 375 13 379 PRT Bacillus licheniformis 13 Met Met Arg Lys Lys Ser Phe Trp Leu Gly Met Leu Thr Ala Leu Met 1 5 10 15 Leu Val Phe Thr Met Ala Phe Ser Asp Ser Ala Ser Ala Ala Gln Pro 20 25 30 Gly Lys Asn Val Glu Lys Asp Tyr Ile Val Gly Phe Lys Ser Gly Val 35 40 45 Lys Thr Ala Ser Val Lys Lys Asp Ile Ile Lys Glu Ser Gly Gly Lys 50 55 60 Val Asp Lys Gln Phe Arg Ile Ile Asn Ala Gly Lys Ala Lys Leu Asp 65 70 75 80 Lys Glu Ala Leu Lys Glu Val Lys Asn Asp Pro Asp Val Ala Tyr Val 85 90 95 Glu Glu Asp His Val Ala His Val Leu Gly Gln Thr Val Pro Tyr Gly 100 105 110 Ile Pro Leu Ile Lys Ala Asp Lys Val Gln Ala Gln Gly Phe Lys Gly 115 120 125 Ala Asn Val Lys Val Ala Val Leu Asp Thr Gly Ile Gln Ala Ser His 130 135 140 Pro Asp Leu Asn Val Val Gly Gly Ala Ser Phe Val Ala Gly Glu Ala 145 150 155 160 Tyr Asn Thr Asp Gly Asn Gly His Gly Thr His Val Ala Gly Thr Val 165 170 175 Ala Ala Leu Asp Asn Thr Thr Gly Val Leu Gly Val Ala Pro Ser Val 180 185 190 Ser Leu Tyr Ala Val Lys Val Leu Asn Ser Ser Gly Ser Gly Ser Tyr 195 200 205 Ser Ala Ile Val Ser Gly Ile Glu Trp Ala Thr Thr Thr Gly Met Asp 210 215 220 Val Ile Asn Met Ser Leu Gly Gly Ala Ser Val Ser Thr Ala Met Lys 225 230 235 240 Gln Ala Val Asp His Ala Tyr Ala Arg Gly Ala Val Val Val Ser Ser 245 250 255 Ala Gly Asn Ser Gly Ser Ser Gly Asn Thr Asn Thr Ile Gly Tyr Pro 260 265 270 Ala Lys Tyr Asp Ser Val Ile Ala Val Gly Ala Val Asp Ser Asn Ser 275 280 285 Asn Arg Ala Ser Phe Ser Ser Val Gly Ala Glu Leu Glu Val Met Ala 290 295 300 Pro Gly Ala Gly Val Tyr Ser Thr Tyr Pro Thr Asn Thr Tyr Ala Thr 305 310 315 320 Leu Asn Gly Thr Ser Met Ala Ser Pro His Val Ala Gly Ala Ala Ala 325 330 335 Leu Ile Leu Ser Lys His Pro Asn Leu Ser Ala Ser Gln Val Arg Thr 340 345 350 Arg Leu Ser Arg Thr Ala Thr Tyr Leu Gly Ser Ser Phe Ser Tyr Gly 355 360 365 Arg Gly Leu Ile Asn Val Glu Ala Ala Ala Gln 370 375 14 378 PRT Bacillus licheniformis 14 Met Met Arg Lys Lys Ser Phe Trp Phe Gly Met Leu Thr Ala Phe Met 1 5 10 15 Leu Val Phe Thr Met Glu Phe Ser Asp Ser Ala Ser Ala Ala Gln Pro 20 25 30 Gly Lys Asn Val Glu Lys Asp Tyr Phe Val Gly Phe Lys Ser Gly Val 35 40 45 Lys Thr Ala Ser Val Lys Lys Asp Ile Ile Lys Glu Ser Gly Gly Lys 50 55 60 Val Asp Lys Gln Phe Arg Ile Ile Asn Ala Ala Lys Ala Thr Leu Asp 65 70 75 80 Lys Glu Ala Leu Lys Glu Val Lys Asn Asp Pro Asp Val Ala Tyr Val 85 90 95 Glu Glu Asp His Val Ala His Ala Leu Gly Gln Thr Val Pro Tyr Gly 100 105 110 Ile Pro Leu Ile Lys Ala Asp Lys Val Gln Ala Gln Gly Phe Lys Gly 115 120 125 Ala Asn Val Lys Val Ala Val Leu Asp Thr Gly Ile Gln Ala Ser His 130 135 140 Pro Asp Leu Asn Val Val Gly Gly Ala Ser Phe Val Ala Gly Glu Ala 145 150 155 160 Tyr Asn Thr Asp Gly Asn Gly His Gly Thr His Val Ala Gly Thr Val 165 170 175 Ala Ala Leu Asp Asn Thr Thr Gly Leu Gly Val Ala Pro Ser Val Ser 180 185 190 Leu Phe Ala Val Lys Val Leu Asn Ser Ser Gly Ser Gly Ser Tyr Ser 195 200 205 Gly Ile Val Ser Gly Ile Glu Trp Ala Thr Thr Asn Gly Met Asp Val 210 215 220 Ile Asn Met Ser Leu Gly Gly Pro Ser Gly Ser Thr Ala Met Lys Gln 225 230 235 240 Ala Val Asp Asn Ala Tyr Ser Lys Gly Val Val Pro Val Ala Ala Ala 245 250 255 Gly Asn Ser Gly Ser Ser Gly Tyr Thr Asn Thr Ile Gly Tyr Pro Ala 260 265 270 Lys Tyr Asp Ser Val Ile Ala Val Gly Ala Val Asp Ser Asn Ser Asn 275 280 285 Arg Ala Ser Phe Ser Ser Val Gly Ala Glu Leu Glu Val Met Ala Pro 290 295 300 Gly Ala Gly Val Tyr Ser Thr Tyr Pro Thr Asn Thr Tyr Ala Thr Leu 305 310 315 320 Asn Gly Thr Ser Met Ala Ser Pro His Val Ala Gly Ala Ala Ala Leu 325 330 335 Ile Leu Ser Lys His Pro Asn Leu Ser Ala Ser Gln Val Arg Asn Arg 340 345 350 Leu Ser Ser Thr Ala Thr Tyr Leu Gly Ser Ser Phe Tyr Tyr Gly Lys 355 360 365 Gly Leu Ile Asn Val Glu Ala Ala Ala Gln 370 375 15 310 PRT Bacillus licheniformis 15 Arg Ile Ile Asn Ala Ala Lys Ala Lys Leu Asp Lys Glu Ala Leu Glu 1 5 10 15 Glu Val Lys Asn Asp Pro Asp Val Ala Tyr Val Glu Glu Asp His Val 20 25 30 Ala His Ala Leu Ala Gln Thr Val Pro Tyr Gly Ile Pro Leu Ile Lys 35 40 45 Ala Asp Lys Val Gln Ala Gln Gly Tyr Lys Gly Ala Asn Val Lys Val 50 55 60 Ala Val Leu Asp Thr Gly Ile Gln Ala Ser His Pro Asp Leu Asn Val 65 70 75 80 Val Gly Gly Ala Ser Phe Val Ala Gly Glu Ala Tyr Asn Thr Asp Gly 85 90 95 Asn Gly His Gly Thr His Val Ala Gly Thr Val Ala Ala Leu Asp Asn 100 105 110 Thr Thr Gly Val Leu Gly Val Ala Pro Asn Val Ser Leu Tyr Ala Val 115 120 125 Lys Val Leu Asn Ser Ser Gly Ser Gly Ser Tyr Ser Gly Ile Val Ser 130 135 140 Gly Ile Glu Trp Ala Thr Thr Asn Gly Met Asp Val Ile Asn Met Ser 145 150 155 160 Leu Gly Gly Ala Ser Gly Ser Thr Ala Met Lys Gln Ala Val Asp Asn 165 170 175 Ala Tyr Ala Arg Gly Val Val Val Val Ala Ala Ala Gly Asn Ser Gly 180 185 190 Ser Ser Gly Asn Thr Asn Thr Ile Gly Tyr Pro Ala Lys Tyr Asp Ser 195 200 205 Val Ile Ala Val Gly Ala Val Asp Ser Asn Ser Asn Arg Ala Ser Phe 210 215 220 Ser Ser Val Gly Ala Glu Leu Glu Val Met Ala Pro Gly Ala Gly Val 225 230 235 240 Tyr Ser Thr Tyr Pro Thr Ser Thr Tyr Ala Thr Leu Asn Gly Thr Ser 245 250 255 Met Ala Ser Pro His Val Ala Gly Ala Ala Ala Leu Ile Leu Ser Lys 260 265 270 His Pro Asn Leu Ser Ala Ser Gln Val Arg Asn Arg Leu Ser Ser Thr 275 280 285 Ala Thr Tyr Leu Gly Ser Ser Phe Tyr Tyr Gly Lys Gly Leu Ile Asn 290 295 300 Val Glu Ala Ala Ala Gln 305 310 16 380 PRT Bacillus subtilis var. natto 16 Met Arg Ser Lys Lys Leu Trp Ile Ser Leu Leu Phe Ala Leu Thr Leu 1 5 10 15 Ile Phe Thr Met Ala Phe Ser Asn Met Ser Ala Gln Ala Ala Gly Lys 20 25 30 Ser Ser Thr Glu Lys Lys Tyr Ile Val Gly Phe Lys Gln Thr Met Ser 35 40 45 Ala Met Ser Ser Ala Lys Lys Lys Asp Val Ile Ser Glu Lys Gly Gly 50 55 60 Lys Val Gln Lys Gln Phe Lys Tyr Val Asn Ala Ala Ala Ala Thr Leu 65 70 75 80 Asp Glu Lys Ala Val Lys Glu Leu Lys Lys Asp Pro Ser Val Ala Tyr 85 90 95 Val Glu Glu Asp His Ile Ala His Glu Tyr Ala Gln Ser Val Pro Tyr 100 105 110 Gly Ile Ser Gln Ile Lys Ala Pro Ala Leu His Ser Gln Gly Tyr Thr 115 120 125 Gly Ser Asn Val Lys Val Ala Val Ile Asp Ser Gly Ile Asp Ser Ser 130 135 140 His Pro Asp Leu Asn Val Arg Gly Gly Ala Ser Phe Val Pro Ser Glu 145 150 155 160 Thr Asn Pro Tyr Gln Asp Gly Ser Ser His Gly Thr His Val Ala Gly 165 170 175 Thr Ile Ala Ala Leu Asn Asn Ser Ile Gly Val Leu Gly Val Ala Pro 180 185 190 Ser Ala Ser Leu Tyr Ala Val Lys Val Leu Asp Ser Thr Gly Ser Gly 195 200 205 Gln Tyr Ser Trp Ile Ile Asn Gly Ile Glu Trp Ala Ile Ser Asn Asn 210 215 220 Met Asp Val Ile Asn Met Ser Leu Gly Gly Pro Thr Gly Ser Thr Ala 225 230 235 240 Leu Lys Thr Val Val Asp Lys Ala Val Ser Ser Gly Ile Val Val Ala 245 250 255 Ala Ala Ala Gly Asn Glu Gly Ser Ser Gly Ser Thr Ser Thr Val Gly 260 265 270 Tyr Pro Ala Lys Tyr Pro Ser Thr Ile Ala Val Gly Ala Val Asn Ser 275 280 285 Ser Asn Gln Arg Ala Ser Phe Ser Ser Val Gly Ser Glu Leu Asp Val 290 295 300 Met Ala Pro Gly Val Ser Ile Gln Ser Ser Thr Leu Pro Gly Gly Thr 305 310 315 320 Tyr Gly Ala Tyr Asn Gly Thr Ser Met Ala Thr His Val Ala Gly Ala 325 330 335 Ala Ala Leu Ile Leu Ser His Pro Thr Trp Thr Asn Ala Gln Val Arg 340 345 350 Asp Arg Leu Glu Ser Thr Ala Thr Tyr Leu Gly Asn Ser Phe Tyr Tyr 355 360 365 Gly Lys Gly Leu Ile Asn Val Gln Ala Ala Ala Gln 370 375 380 17 274 PRT Bacillus subtilis 17 Ala Gln Ser Val Pro Tyr Gly Ile Ser Gln Ile Lys Ala Pro Ala Leu 1 5 10 15 His Ser Gln Gly Tyr Thr Gly Ser Asn Val Lys Val Ala Val Ile Asp 20 25 30 Ser Gly Ile Asp Ser Ser His Pro Asp Leu Asn Val Arg Gly Gly Ala 35 40 45 Ser Phe Val Pro Ser Glu Thr Asn Pro Tyr Gln Asp Gly Ser Ser His 50 55 60 Gly Thr His Val Ala Gly Thr Ile Ala Ala Leu Asn Asn Ser Ile Gly 65 70 75 80 Val Leu Gly Val Pro Ser Ala Ser Leu Tyr Ala Val Lys Val Leu Asp 85 90 95 Ser Thr Gly Ser Gly Gln Tyr Ser Trp Ile Ile Asn Gly Ile Glu Trp 100 105 110 Ala Ile Ser Asn Asn Met Asp Val Ile Asn Met Ser Leu Gly Gly Pro 115 120 125 Thr Gly Ser Thr Ala Leu Lys Thr Val Val Asp Lys Ala Val Ser Ser 130 135 140 Gly Ile Val Val Ala Ala Ala Ala Gly Asn Glu Gly Ser Ser Gly Ser 145 150 155 160 Thr Ser Thr Val Gly Tyr Pro Ala Lys Tyr Pro Ser Thr Ile Ala Val 165 170 175 Gly Ala Val Asn Ser Ser Asn Gln Arg Ala Ser Phe Ser Ser Ala Gly 180 185 190 Ser Glu Leu Asp Val Met Ala Pro Gly Val Ser Ile Gln Ser Thr Leu 195 200 205 Pro Gly Gly Thr Tyr Gly Ala Tyr Asn Gly Thr Cys Met Ala Thr Pro 210 215 220 His Val Ala Gly Ala Ala Ala Leu Ile Leu Ser Lys His Pro Thr Trp 225 230 235 240 Thr Asn Ala Gln Val Arg Asp Arg Leu Glu Ser Thr Ala Thr Tyr Leu 245 250 255 Gly Asn Ser Phe Tyr Tyr Gly Lys Gly Leu Ile Asn Val Gln Ala Ala 260 265 270 Ala Gln 18 275 PRT Bacillus pumilus 18 Ala Gln Ser Val Pro Tyr Gly Ile Ser Gln Ile Lys Ala Pro Ala Leu 1 5 10 15 His Ser Gln Gly Tyr Thr Gly Ser Asn Val Lys Val Ala Val Ile Asp 20 25 30 Ser Gly Ile Asp Ser Ser His Pro Asp Leu Asn Val Arg Gly Gly Ala 35 40 45 Ser Phe Val Pro Ser Glu Thr Asn Pro Tyr Gln Asp Gly Ser Ser His 50 55 60 Gly Thr His Val Ala Gly Thr Ile Ala Ala Leu Asn Asn Ser Ile Gly 65 70 75 80 Val Leu Gly Val Ala Pro Ser Ala Ser Leu Tyr Ala Val Lys Val Leu 85 90 95 Asp Ser Thr Gly Ser Gly Gln Tyr Ser Trp Ile Ile Asn Gly Ile Glu 100 105 110 Trp Ala Ile Ser Asn Asn Met Asp Val Ile Asn Met Ser Leu Gly Gly 115 120 125 Pro Thr Gly Ser Thr Ala Leu Lys Thr Val Val Asp Lys Ala Val Ser 130 135 140 Ser Gly Ile Val Val Ala Ala Ala Ala Gly Asn Glu Gly Ser Ser Gly 145 150 155 160 Ser Thr Ser Thr Val Gly Tyr Pro Ala Lys Tyr Pro Ser Thr Ile Ala 165 170 175 Val Gly Ala Val Asn Ser Ala Asn Gln Arg Ala Ser Phe Ser Ser Ala 180 185 190 Gly Ser Glu Leu Asp Val Met Ala Pro Gly Val Ser Ile Gln Ser Thr 195 200 205 Leu Pro Gly Gly Thr Tyr Gly Ala Tyr Asn Gly Thr Ser Met Ala Thr 210 215 220 Pro His Val Ala Gly Ala Ala Ala Leu Ile Leu Ser Lys His Pro Thr 225 230 235 240 Trp Thr Asn Ala Gln Val Arg Asp Arg Leu Glu Ser Thr Ala Thr Tyr 245 250 255 Leu Gly Ser Ser Phe Tyr Tyr Gly Lys Gly Leu Ile Asn Val Gln Ala 260 265 270 Ala Ala Gln 275 19 380 PRT Bacillus amyloliquefaciens 19 Met Arg Gly Lys Lys Val Trp Ile Ser Leu Leu Phe Ala Leu Ala Leu 1 5 10 15 Ile Phe Thr Met Ala Phe Gly Ser Thr Ser Ser Ala Gln Ala Ala Gly 20 25 30 Lys Ser Asn Gly Glu Lys Lys Tyr Ile Val Gly Phe Gln Thr Met Ser 35 40 45 Thr Met Ser Ala Ala Lys Lys Lys Asp Val Ile Ser Glu Lys Gly Gly 50 55 60 Lys Val Gln Lys Gln Phe Lys Tyr Val Asp Ala Ala Ser Ala Thr Leu 65 70 75 80 Asn Glu Lys Ala Val Lys Glu Leu Lys Lys Asp Pro Ser Val Ala Tyr 85 90 95 Val Glu Glu Asp His Val Ala His Ala Tyr Ala Gln Ser Val Pro Tyr 100 105 110 Gly Val Ser Gln Ile Lys Ala Pro Ala Leu His Ser Gln Gly Tyr Thr 115 120 125 Gly Ser Asn Val Lys Val Ala Val Ile Asp Ser Gly Ile Asp Ser Ser 130 135 140 His Pro Asp Leu Lys Val Ala Gly Gly Ala Ser Met Val Pro Ser Glu 145 150 155 160 Thr Asn Pro Phe Gln Asp Asn Asn Ser His Gly Thr His Val Ala Gly 165 170 175 Thr Val Ala Ala Leu Asn Asn Ser Ile Gly Val Leu Gly Val Ala Pro 180 185 190 Ser Ala Ser Leu Tyr Ala Val Lys Val Leu Gly Ala Asp Gly Ser Gly 195 200 205 Gln Tyr Ser Trp Ile Ile Asn Gly Ile Glu Trp Ala Ile Ala Asn Asn 210 215 220 Met Asp Val Ile Asn Met Ser Leu Gly Gly Pro Ser Gly Ser Ala Ala 225 230 235 240 Leu Lys Ala Val Asp Lys Ala Val Ala Ser Gly Val Val Val Val Ala 245 250 255 Ala Ala Gly Asn Glu Gly Thr Ser Gly Ser Ser Ser Thr Val Gly Tyr 260 265 270 Pro Gly Lys Tyr Pro Ser Val Ile Ala Val Gly Ala Val Asp Ser Ser 275 280 285 Asn Gln Arg Ala Ser Phe Ser Ser Val Gly Pro Glu Leu Asp Val Met 290 295 300 Ala Pro Gly Val Ser Ile Gln Ser Thr Leu Pro Gly Asn Lys Tyr Gly 305 310 315 320 Ala Tyr Asn Gly Thr Ser Met Ala Ser Pro His Val Ala Gly Ala Ala 325 330 335 Ala Leu Ile Leu Ser Lys His Pro Asn Trp Thr Asn Thr Gln Val Arg 340 345 350 Ser Ser Leu Glu Asn Thr Thr Thr Lys Leu Gly Asp Ser Phe Tyr Tyr 355 360 365 Gly Lys Gly Leu Ile Asn Val Gln Ala Ala Ala Gln 370 375 380 20 382 PRT Bacillus amyloliquefaciens 20 Met Ile Ser Leu Leu Phe Ala Leu Ala Leu Ile Phe Thr Met Ala Phe 1 5 10 15 Gly Ser Thr Ser Ser Ala Gln Ala Ala Gly Lys Ser Asn Gly Glu Lys 20 25 30 Lys Tyr Ile Val Gly Phe Lys Gln Thr Met Ser Thr Met Ser Ala Ala 35 40 45 Lys Lys Lys Asp Val Ile Ser Glu Lys Gly Gly Lys Val Gln Lys Gln 50 55 60 Phe Lys Tyr Val Asp Ala Ala Ser Ala Thr Leu Asn Glu Lys Ala Val 65 70 75 80 Lys Glu Leu Lys Lys Asp Pro Ser Val Ala Tyr Val Glu Glu Asp His 85 90 95 Val Ala His Ala Tyr Ala Gln Ser Val Pro Tyr Gly Val Ser Gln Ile 100 105 110 Lys Ala Pro Ala Leu His Ser Gln Gly Tyr Thr Gly Ser Asn Val Lys 115 120 125 Val Ala Val Ala Val Ile Asp Ser Gly Ile Asp Ser Ser His Pro Asp 130 135 140 Leu Lys Val Ala Gly Gly Ala Ser Met Val Pro Ser Glu Thr Asn Pro 145 150 155 160 Phe Gln Asp Asn Asn Ser His Gly Thr His Val Ala Gly Thr Val Ala 165 170 175 Ala Leu Asn Asn Ser Ile Gly Val Leu Gly Val Ala Pro Ser Ala Ser 180 185 190 Leu Tyr Ala Val Lys Val Leu Gly Ala Asp Gly Ser Gly Gln Tyr Ser 195 200 205 Trp Ile Ile Asn Gly Ile Glu Trp Ala Ile Ala Asn Asn Met Asp Val 210 215 220 Ile Asn Met Ser Leu Gly Gly Pro Ser Gly Ser Ala Ala Leu Lys Ala 225 230 235 240 Ala Val Asp Lys Ala Val Asp Lys Ala Val Ala Ser Gly Val Val Val 245 250 255 Val Ala Ala Ala Gly Asn Glu Gly Thr Ser Gly Ser Ser Ser Thr Val 260 265 270 Gly Tyr Pro Gly Lys Tyr Pro Ser Val Ile Ala Val Gly Ala Val Asp 275 280 285 Ser Ser Asn Gln Arg Ala Ser Phe Ser Ser Val Gly Pro Glu Leu Asp 290 295 300 Val Met Ala Pro Gly Val Ser Ile Gln Ser Thr Leu Pro Gly Asn Lys 305 310 315 320 Tyr Gly Ala Tyr Asn Gly Thr Ser Met Ala Ser Pro His Val Ala Gly 325 330 335 Ala Ala Ala Leu Ile Leu Ser Lys His Pro Asn Trp Thr Asn Thr Gln 340 345 350 Val Arg Ser Ser Leu Glu Asn Thr Thr Thr Lys Leu Gly Asp Ser Phe 355 360 365 Tyr Tyr Gly Lys Gly Leu Ile Asn Val Gln Ala Ala Ala Gln 370 375 380 21 279 PRT Bacillus amyloliquefaciens 21 Ala Gln Ser Val Pro Tyr Gly Val Ser Gln Ile Lys Ala Pro Ala Leu 1 5 10 15 His Ser Gln Gly Tyr Thr Gly Ser Asn Val Lys Val Ala Val Ile Asp 20 25 30 Ser Gly Ile Asp Ser Gly Ile Asp Ser Ser His Pro Asp Leu Lys Val 35 40 45 Ala Gly Gly Ala Ser Met Val Pro Ser Glu Thr Asn Pro Phe Gln Asp 50 55 60 Asn Asn Ser His Gly Thr His Val Ala Gly Thr Val Ala Ala Leu Asn 65 70 75 80 Asn Ser Ile Gly Val Leu Gly Val Ala Pro Ser Ala Ser Leu Tyr Ala 85 90 95 Val Lys Val Leu Gly Ala Asp Gly Ser Gly Gln Tyr Ser Trp Ile Ile 100 105 110 Asn Gly Ile Glu Trp Ala Ile Ala Asn Asn Met Asp Val Ile Asn Met 115 120 125 Ser Leu Gly Gly Pro Ser Gly Ser Ala Ala Leu Lys Ala Ala Val Asp 130 135 140 Lys Ala Val Ala Ser Gly Val Val Val Val Ala Ala Ala Gly Asn Glu 145 150 155 160 Gly Thr Ser Gly Ser Ser Ser Thr Val Gly Tyr Pro Gly Lys Tyr Pro 165 170 175 Ser Val Ile Ala Val Gly Ala Val Asp Ser Ser Asn Gln Arg Ala Ser 180 185 190 Phe Ser Ser Val Gly Pro Glu Leu Asp Val Met Ala Pro Gly Val Ser 195 200 205 Ile Gln Ser Thr Leu Pro Gly Asn Lys Tyr Gly Ala Tyr Ser Gly Thr 210 215 220 Cys Met Ala Ser Pro His Val Ala Gly Ala Ala Ala Leu Ile Leu Ser 225 230 235 240 Lys His Pro Asn Trp Thr Asn Thr Gln Val Arg Ser Ser Leu Glu Asn 245 250 255 Thr Thr Thr Lys Leu Gly Asp Ser Phe Tyr Tyr Gly Lys Gly Leu Ile 260 265 270 Asn Val Gln Ala Ala Ala Gln 275 22 267 PRT Bacillus amyloliquefaciens 22 Ala Gln Ser Val Pro Tyr Gly Val Ser Gln Ile Lys Ala Pro Ala Leu 1 5 10 15 Ser His Ser Gln Gly Tyr Thr Gly Ser Asn Val Lys Val Ala Val Ile 20 25 30 Asp Ser Gly Ile Asp Ser Ser His Pro Asp Leu Lys Val Ala Gly Gly 35 40 45 Ala Ser Phe Val Pro Ser Glu Thr Asn Pro Phe Gln Asp Asn Asn Ser 50 55 60 His Gly Thr His Val Ala Gly Thr Val Ala Ala Val Ala Pro Ser Ala 65 70 75 80 Ser Leu Tyr Ala Val Lys Val Leu Gly Ala Asp Gly Ser Gly Gln Tyr 85 90 95 Ser Trp Ile Ile Asn Gly Ile Glu Trp Ala Ile Ala Asn Asn Met Asp 100 105 110 Val Ile Asn Met Ser Leu Gly Gly Ser Pro Gly Ser Ala Ala Leu Lys 115 120 125 Ala Ala Val Asp Lys Ala Val Ala Ser Gly Val Val Val Val Ala Ala 130 135 140 Ala Gly Asn Glu Gly Thr Ser Gly Ser Ser Ser Thr Val Gly Tyr Pro 145 150 155 160 Gly Lys Tyr Pro Ser Val Ile Ala Val Gly Ala Val Asp Ser Ser Asn 165 170 175 Gln Arg Ala Ser Phe Ser Ser Val Gly Pro Glu Leu Asp Val Met Ala 180 185 190 Pro Gly Val Ser Ile Gln Ser Thr Leu Pro Phe Asn Lys Tyr Gly Ala 195 200 205 Lys Ser Gly Thr Cys Met Ala Ser Pro His Val Ala Gly Ala Ala Ala 210 215 220 Leu Ile Leu Ser Lys His Pro Asn Trp Thr Asn Thr Gln Val Arg Ser 225 230 235 240 Ser Leu Glu Asn Thr Thr Thr Lys Leu Gly Asp Ser Phe Tyr Tyr Gly 245 250 255 Lys Gly Leu Ile Asn Val Gln Ala Ala Ala Gln 260 265 23 275 PRT Bacillus amyloliquefaciens 23 Ala Gln Ser Val Pro Tyr Gly Val Ser Gln Ile Lys Ala Pro Ala Leu 1 5 10 15 His Ser Gln Gly Tyr Cys Gly Ser Asn Val Lys Val Ala Val Ile Asp 20 25 30 Ser Gly Ile Asp Ser Ser His Pro Asp Leu Lys Val Ala Gly Gly Ala 35 40 45 Ser Phe Val Pro Ser Glu Thr Asn Pro Phe Gln Asp Asn Asn Ser His 50 55 60 Gly Thr His Val Ala Gly Thr Val Ala Ala Leu Asn Asn Ser Ile Gly 65 70 75 80 Val Leu Gly Val Ala Pro Cys Ala Ser Leu Tyr Ala Val Lys Val Leu 85 90 95 Gly Ala Asp Gly Ser Gly Gln Tyr Ser Trp Ile Ile Asn Gly Ile Glu 100 105 110 Trp Ala Ile Ala Asn Asn Met Asp Val Ile Asn Met Ser Leu Gly Gly 115 120 125 Pro Ser Gly Ser Ala Ala Leu Lys Ala Ala Val Asp Lys Ala Val Ala 130 135 140 Ser Gly Val Val Val Val Ala Ala Ala Gly Asn Glu Gly Thr Ser Gly 145 150 155 160 Ser Ser Ser Thr Val Gly Tyr Pro Ala Lys Tyr Pro Ser Val Ile Ala 165 170 175 Val Gly Ala Val Asp Ser Ser Asn Gln Arg Ala Ser Phe Ser Ser Val 180 185 190 Gly Pro Glu Leu Asp Val Met Ala Pro Gly Val Ser Ile Cys Ser Thr 195 200 205 Leu Pro Gly Asn Lys Tyr Gly Ala Lys Ser Gly Thr Ser Met Ala Ser 210 215 220 Pro His Val Ala Gly Ala Ala Ala Leu Ile Leu Ser Lys His Pro Asn 225 230 235 240 Trp Thr Asn Thr Gln Val Arg Ser Ser Leu Glu Asn Thr Thr Thr Lys 245 250 255 Leu Gly Asp Ser Phe Tyr Tyr Gly Lys Gly Leu Ile Asn Val Gln Ala 260 265 270 Ala Ala Gln 275 24 371 PRT Bacillus halodurans 24 Met Lys Arg Arg Val His Leu Ile Met Thr Ile Leu Met Ile Val Leu 1 5 10 15 Ala Thr Gly Thr Ala Phe Ala Asp Asn Arg Glu Asp Thr Glu Asp Thr 20 25 30 Glu Glu Tyr Leu Val Gly Phe Lys Asn Glu Ala Ala Val Gln Ala Phe 35 40 45 Ser Asn Asn Val Thr Thr Ser Ala Val Glu Val Gln His Glu Tyr Glu 50 55 60 Asn Leu Pro Val Ile Val Ser Glu Leu Ser Thr Glu Val Ala Gln Leu 65 70 75 80 Leu Glu Asn Asp Pro Ser Val Glu Phe Ile Glu Lys Asn Glu Arg Val 85 90 95 Tyr Leu Asp Pro Leu Val Met Asn Asn Ile Gln Glu Thr Asp Ile Pro 100 105 110 Lys Leu Glu Glu Arg Met Lys Arg Gly Asp Gly Val Lys Ile Ala Val 115 120 125 Leu Asp Thr Gly Ile Ala Ser His Asp Asp Leu His Val Ile Asp Gly 130 135 140 Val Ser Phe Val Ser Val Glu Pro Phe Tyr Arg Asp Leu Asn Gly His 145 150 155 160 Gly Thr His Val Ala Gly Thr Ile Ala Ala Gln Glu Asn Asp Glu Ala 165 170 175 Ser Thr Gly Ile Ala Pro Asn Val Glu Leu Tyr Ala Val Lys Val Leu 180 185 190 Asn Gly Leu Gly Ala Gly Ser Ile Ala Ser Ile Thr Asn Gly Val Asp 195 200 205 Trp Ala Ile Ser Asn Asp Met Asp Ile Ile Asn Met Ser Leu Gly Thr 210 215 220 Asn Thr Asp Ser Glu Ala Leu Gln Arg Ala Val Glu Arg Ala His Asp 225 230 235 240 His Gly Ile Leu Ile Ile Ala Ala Ala Gly Asn Ser Gly Glu Ala Asp 245 250 255 Lys Gln His Thr Ile Asp Tyr Pro Ala Arg Tyr Asp Ser Val Val Ala 260 265 270 Val Gly Ala Val Asp Gly Asn Asn Glu Arg Ala Ser Phe Ser Ser Tyr 275 280 285 Gly Glu Gln Leu Glu Ile Met Ala Pro Gly Val Glu Ile His Ser Thr 290 295 300 Phe Leu Phe Asn Arg Tyr Glu Arg Leu Ser Gly Thr Ser Met Ala Ser 305 310 315 320 Pro His Val Thr Gly Ala Ala Ala Leu Ile Lys Ser Asn Asn Pro Glu 325 330 335 Leu Thr Asn Glu Gln Ile Arg Lys Arg Leu Asn Thr Thr Ala Thr Pro 340 345 350 Leu Gly Asn Pro Phe Tyr Tyr Gly His Gly Leu Leu Asn Val Asp Ala 355 360 365 Ala Leu Asp 370 25 435 PRT Bacillus smithii 25 Met Lys Lys Phe Lys Arg Lys Gly Arg Leu Leu Asp Glu Lys His Glu 1 5 10 15 Met Ala Ile Phe Phe Leu Phe Leu Leu Val Ile Leu Pro Phe Lys Ala 20 25 30 Tyr Gly Ala Glu Ser Asp Glu Tyr Met Ile Leu Phe Arg His His Ile 35 40 45 Asp Asp Gly Ile Leu Lys Lys Tyr Asp Ile His Ala Gln Lys Lys Tyr 50 55 60 Glu Thr Ile Pro Thr Val Leu Ala Glu Leu Asn Lys Ser Gln Val Asp 65 70 75 80 Lys Leu Arg Ser Glu Pro Glu Ile Ala Lys Val Gln Ala Asn Lys Thr 85 90 95 Tyr Lys Val Gln Ser Gln Ile Glu Thr Trp Gly Tyr Lys Lys Ile Tyr 100 105 110 Glu Asp Ser Gln Tyr Arg Ser Pro Phe Thr Gly Lys Gly Val Lys Val 115 120 125 Ala Val Ile Asp Thr Gly Ile Ala Ser Asn His Pro Asp Leu Lys Val 130 135 140 Lys Gly Gly Thr Cys Val Ile Arg Ser Asp Cys Gly Lys Gly Tyr Asn 145 150 155 160 Asp Asp Asn Gly His Thr His Val Ala Gly Ile Ile Gly Ala Leu Asp 165 170 175 Asn Gly Val Gly Ile Val Gly Val Ala Pro Asp Ala Asp Leu Tyr Ala 180 185 190 Val Lys Ala Phe Asp Glu Phe Gly Glu Gly Ser Thr Ser Ser Ile Thr 195 200 205 Ala Gly Val Asp Trp Ala Ile Gln His His Met Asp Ile Ile Asn Leu 210 215 220 Ser Val Thr Thr Val Ser Asp Asp Pro Val Leu Lys Ser Ala Leu Asp 225 230 235 240 Lys Ala Tyr Asn Ala Gly Ile Leu Ile Thr Ala Ala Ala Asn Asp Gly 245 250 255 Asp Ser Val Gly Ser Lys Asn Thr Ile Leu Tyr Pro Ala Lys Tyr Ser 260 265 270 Ser Val Ile Ala Val Gly Ser Val Asp Ser Arg Leu Gln Arg Leu Pro 275 280 285 Phe Ser Ala Thr Gly Pro Glu Leu Glu Ile Val Ala Pro Gly Gln Tyr 290 295 300 Val Phe Ser Thr Phe Pro Ile Asn Leu Asp Thr Thr Asp Gly Lys Lys 305 310 315 320 Asp Gly Tyr Thr Ala Leu Ser Gly Thr Ser Met Ala Leu Pro His Leu 325 330 335 Tyr Thr Gly Ala Leu Ala Ala Thr Leu Lys Thr Ser Ile Lys Thr Asn 340 345 350 Arg Pro Ala Gly Asn Pro Gln Asn Thr Ser Asp Gln Asn Ala Lys Asp 355 360 365 Leu Gly Thr Ala Gly Lys Asp Ser Leu Tyr Gly Tyr Gly Leu Val Gln 370 375 380 Ile Lys Thr Phe Gln Pro Thr Leu Ser Ser Asp Met Ala Val Lys Ala 385 390 395 400 Val Lys Ala Asp Asn Gly Leu Trp Ser Ser Arg Ser Ile Ser Pro Ile 405 410 415 Pro Phe Lys Ser Leu Ala Glu Lys Lys Arg Arg Asn Gly Gly Arg His 420 425 430 Tyr Lys Gln 435 26 648 PRT Bacillus subtilis 26 Met Lys Asn Met Ser Cys Lys Leu Val Val Ser Val Thr Leu Phe Phe 1 5 10 15 Ser Phe Leu Thr Ile Gly Pro Leu Ala His Ala Gln Asn Ser Ser Glu 20 25 30 Lys Glu Val Ile Val Val Tyr Lys Asn Lys Ala Gly Lys Glu Thr Ile 35 40 45 Leu Asp Ser Asp Ala Asp Val Glu Gln Gln Tyr Lys His Leu Pro Ala 50 55 60 Val Ala Val Thr Ala Asp Gln Glu Thr Val Lys Glu Leu Lys Gln Asp 65 70 75 80 Pro Asp Ile Leu Tyr Val Glu Asn Asn Val Ser Phe Thr Ala Ala Asp 85 90 95 Ser Thr Asp Phe Lys Val Leu Ser Asp Gly Thr Asp Thr Ser Asp Asn 100 105 110 Phe Glu Gln Trp Asn Leu Glu Pro Ile Gln Val Lys Gln Ala Trp Lys 115 120 125 Ala Gly Leu Thr Gly Lys Asn Ile Lys Ile Ala Val Ile Asp Ser Gly 130 135 140 Ile Ser Pro His Asp Asp Leu Ser Ile Ala Gly Gly Tyr Ser Ala Val 145 150 155 160 Ser Tyr Thr Ser Ser Tyr Lys Asp Asp Asn Gly His Gly Thr His Val 165 170 175 Ala Gly Ile Ile Gly Ala Lys His Asn Gly Tyr Gly Ile Asp Gly Ile 180 185 190 Ala Pro Glu Ala Gln Ile Tyr Ala Val Lys Ala Leu Asp Gln Asn Gly 195 200 205 Ser Gly Asp Leu Gln Ser Leu Leu Gln Gly Ile Asp Trp Ser Ile Ala 210 215 220 Asn Arg Met Asp Ile Val Asn Met Ser Leu Gly Thr Thr Ser Asp Ser 225 230 235 240 Lys Ile Leu His Asp Ala Val Asn Lys Ala Tyr Glu Gln Gly Val Leu 245 250 255 Leu Val Ala Ala Ser Gly Asn Asp Gly Asn Gly Lys Pro Val Asn Tyr 260 265 270 Pro Ala Ala Tyr Ser Ser Val Val Ala Val Ser Ala Thr Asn Glu Lys 275 280 285 Asn Gln Leu Ala Ser Phe Ser Thr Thr Gly Asp Glu Val Glu Phe Ser 290 295 300 Ala Pro Gly Thr Asn Ile Thr Ser Thr Tyr Leu Asn Gln Tyr Tyr Ala 305 310 315 320 Thr Gly Ser Gly Thr Ser Gln Ala Thr Pro His Ala Ala Ala Met Phe 325 330 335 Ala Leu Leu Lys Gln Arg Asp Pro Ala Glu Thr Asn Val Gln Leu Arg 340 345 350 Glu Glu Met Arg Lys Asn Ile Val Asp Leu Gly Thr Ala Gly Arg Asp 355 360 365 Gln Gln Phe Gly Tyr Gly Leu Ile Gln Tyr Lys Ala Gln Ala Thr Asp 370 375 380 Ser Ala Tyr Ala Ala Ala Glu Gln Ala Val Lys Lys Ala Glu Gln Thr 385 390 395 400 Lys Ala Gln Ile Asp Ile Asn Lys Ala Arg Glu Leu Ile Ser Gln Leu 405 410 415 Pro Asn Ser Asp Ala Lys Thr Ala Leu His Lys Arg Leu Asp Lys Val 420 425 430 Gln Ser Tyr Arg Asn Val Lys Asp Ala Lys Asp Lys Val Ala Lys Ala 435 440 445 Glu Lys Tyr Lys Thr Gln Gln Thr Val Asp Thr Ala Gln Thr Ala Ile 450 455 460 Asn Lys Leu Pro Asn Gly Thr Asp Lys Lys Asn Lys Gln Lys Arg Leu 465 470 475 480 Asp Gln Val Lys Arg Tyr Ile Ala Ser Lys Gln Ala Lys Asp Lys Val 485 490 495 Ala Lys Ala Glu Lys Ser Lys Lys Lys Thr Asp Val Asp Ser Ala Gln 500 505 510 Ser Ala Ile Gly Lys Leu Pro Ala Ser Ser Glu Lys Thr Ser Leu Gln 515 520 525 Lys Arg Leu Asn Lys Val Lys Ser Thr Asn Thr Ala Gln Gln Ser Val 530 535 540 Ser Ala Ala Glu Lys Lys Ser Thr Asp Ala Asn Ala Ala Lys Ala Gln 545 550 555 560 Ser Ala Val Asn Gln Ser Ala Val Asn Gln Leu Gln Ala Gly Lys Asp 565 570 575 Lys Thr Ala Leu Gln Lys Arg Leu Asp Lys Val Lys Lys Lys Val Ala 580 585 590 Ala Ala Glu Ala Lys Lys Val Glu Thr Ala Lys Ala Lys Val Lys Lys 595 600 605 Ala Glu Lys Asp Lys Thr Lys Lys Ser Lys Thr Ser Ala Gln Ser Ala 610 615 620 Val Asn Gln Leu Lys Ala Ser Asn Glu Lys Thr Lys Leu Gln Lys Arg 625 630 635 640 Leu Asn Ala Val Lys Pro Lys Lys 645 27 440 PRT Aeropyrum pernix 27 Met Val Ala Val Val Thr Gly Val Ile Gln Val Gly Thr Lys Ile Ala 1 5 10 15 Ala Ile Ala Ile Ala Leu Ile Phe Ile Leu Pro Leu Phe Pro Val Tyr 20 25 30 Thr Gly Ser Ala Ala Gly Ala Ser Thr Val Val Ile Ala Lys Ile Asn 35 40 45 Pro Glu Glu Phe Asn Pro Lys Ala Val Glu Ala Leu Gln Gly Lys Val 50 55 60 Ile Tyr Val Ala Asp Leu Ala Pro Val Ala Ile Ile Ser Ile Pro Gly 65 70 75 80 Lys Ala Val Gly Leu Leu Ser Lys Leu Pro Gly Val Val Ser Val Ser 85 90 95 Glu Asp Gly Val Val Gln Ala Met Ala Lys Pro Pro Trp Ala Gly Gly 100 105 110 Gly Asn Lys Ser Gln Pro Ala Glu Val Leu Pro Trp Gly Val Asp Tyr 115 120 125 Ile Asp Ala Glu Leu Val Trp Pro Asp Gly Val Thr Gly Trp Val Asp 130 135 140 Val Asn Gly Asp Gly Asp Gly Glu Ile Glu Val Ala Val Ile Asp Thr 145 150 155 160 Gly Val Asp Lys Asp His Pro Asp Leu Ala Gly Asn Ile Val Trp Gly 165 170 175 Ile Ser Val Leu Asn Gly Arg Ile Ser Ser Asn Tyr Gln Asp Arg Asn 180 185 190 Gly His Gly Thr His Val Thr Gly Thr Val Ala Ala Ile Asp Asn Asp 195 200 205 Ile Gly Val Ile Gly Val Ala His Ser Val Glu Ile Tyr Ala Val Lys 210 215 220 Ala Leu Gly Asn Gly Gly Tyr Gly Ser Trp Ser Asp Leu Ile Ile Ala 225 230 235 240 Ile Asp Leu Ala Val Lys Gly Pro Asp Gly Val Ile Asp Ala Asp Gly 245 250 255 Asp Gly Val Val Ala Gly Asp Pro Asp Asp Asp Ala Pro Glu Val Ile 260 265 270 Ser Met Ser Leu Gly Gly Ser Ser Pro Pro Pro Glu Leu His Asp Val 275 280 285 Ile Lys Ala Ala Tyr Asn Leu Gly Ile Thr Ile Val Ala Ala Ala Gly 290 295 300 Asn Asp Gly Ala Asp Ser Pro Ser Tyr Pro Ala Ala Tyr Pro Glu Val 305 310 315 320 Ile Ala Val Gly Ala Ile Asp Glu Asn Gly Asn Val Pro Ser Trp Ser 325 330 335 Asn Arg Asn Pro Glu Val Ala Ala Pro Gly Val Asn Ile Leu Ser Thr 340 345 350 Tyr Pro Asp Asp Thr Tyr Glu Glu Leu Ser Gly Thr Ser Met Ala Thr 355 360 365 Pro His Val Ser Gly Thr Val Ala Leu Ile Gln Ala Ala Arg Leu Ala 370 375 380 Ala Gly Leu Pro Leu Leu Pro Pro Gly Ser Glu Ser Asp Thr Thr Pro 385 390 395 400 Asp Thr Val Arg Gly Val Leu His Thr Thr Ala Thr Asp Ala Gly Asp 405 410 415 Pro Gly Tyr Asp Ser Leu Tyr Gly Tyr Gly Ile Ile Asp Ala Tyr Asp 420 425 430 Ala Val Gln Thr Ala Val Ser Ser 435 440 28 554 PRT Bacillus halodurans 28 Met Lys Thr Met Lys Thr Leu Val Ile Val Ile Gly Val Leu Ala Leu 1 5 10 15 Leu Phe Ile Val Ala Ile Gly His Val Arg Asp Gln Asp Gln Ala Leu 20 25 30 Ile Gln Thr Lys Glu Ile Pro Lys Thr Leu Glu Thr Glu Ala Met Asp 35 40 45 His Leu Leu Ala Glu Asp Leu Ser Leu Thr Thr Ser Met Phe Ile Lys 50 55 60 Gln Met Ala Glu Gln Leu Gln Arg Trp Ser Glu Gln Leu Glu Glu Asp 65 70 75 80 Pro Thr Ile Lys Asp Glu Phe Arg Gln Gln Ile Asp Glu His Pro His 85 90 95 Met Gln Phe Ala Ile Ala Glu Ala Asn Lys Ile Thr Gln Lys Val Gly 100 105 110 Thr Leu His Arg Asp Asp Val Lys Ala Leu Thr His Val His His Asn 115 120 125 Gln Arg Tyr Ser Asp Pro Tyr Asn Val Asp Asp Ser Thr Tyr Met Leu 130 135 140 Ile Gly Glu Ser Thr Asp Asp Gly Arg Leu Leu Ile Gly Glu Leu Asn 145 150 155 160 Leu Glu Phe Val Lys Lys Tyr Val Lys Asp Ile Ala Ala Val Ala Asp 165 170 175 Thr Asn Gly Asn Phe Phe Ile Gly Gly Asp Asn Pro Asp Val Ser Trp 180 185 190 Gln Asp Gln Asp Glu Arg Ala Thr Gln Leu Thr Ser Glu Thr Val Pro 195 200 205 Glu Leu Gly Trp Asp Ile His Val Gln Ser Glu Gly Gln Glu Glu Glu 210 215 220 Gly Pro Ala Tyr His Glu His Gln Ala Val Ile Arg Phe Lys Pro Asn 225 230 235 240 Arg Asp Pro Ala Ala Trp Phe Ala Thr Asn Pro Tyr Arg Val Val Glu 245 250 255 Glu Ala Pro Pro Phe Phe Val Ile Glu Ser Pro Asn Gln Thr Thr Val 260 265 270 Glu Ile Val Glu Ala Leu Ser Arg Asp Tyr Asp Leu Asp Phe Ala Glu 275 280 285 Pro Asn Tyr Arg Phe Thr Lys Gln Ile Gln Ala Pro Val Thr Pro Asn 290 295 300 Asp Glu Phe Phe Lys Glu Tyr Gln Trp Asn Leu Gln Gln Ile Asp Ile 305 310 315 320 Glu Glu Gly Trp Ser Leu Ala Ser Gly Glu Asn Val Lys Ile Ala Ile 325 330 335 Leu Asp Thr Gly Val Asp Pro Asn His Pro Asp Ile Lys Asp Lys Ile 340 345 350 Val Asn Gly Tyr Asn Ala Val Glu Gly Asn Asn Asn Phe Ala Asp Lys 355 360 365 His Gly His Gly Thr His Val Ala Gly Val Ala Ala Ala Val Thr Asn 370 375 380 Asn Val Thr Gly Ile Ala Gly Ile Ser Trp Lys Ser Glu Ile Leu Pro 385 390 395 400 Val Lys Val Leu Asn Asp Asn Gly Glu Gly Ser Ser Phe Glu Val Ala 405 410 415 Lys Gly Ile Tyr Trp Ala Thr Asp His Gly Ala Lys Val Ile Asn Met 420 425 430 Ser Leu Gly Asp Tyr Tyr His Ser Asp Ala Leu Arg Asp Ala Val Lys 435 440 445 Tyr Ala Tyr Asp His Asp Val Val Leu Ile Ala Ala Ser Gly Asn Asp 450 455 460 Asn Val Glu Asp Pro Leu Tyr Pro Ala Ile Tyr Glu Glu Val Leu Thr 465 470 475 480 Val Ala Ala Val Asp Asp Thr Arg Asn Arg Ala Phe Phe Ser Asn Phe 485 490 495 Gly Lys His Ile Asp Val Thr Ala Pro Gly Glu His Ile Pro Asp Leu 500 505 510 Ser Asn Gln Glu Val Met Asp Ile Met Lys Lys Thr Ala Lys Asp Leu 515 520 525 Gly Pro Lys Gly His Asp Val Tyr Tyr Gly His Gly Glu Ile Asp Ile 530 535 540 Glu Ala Ala Leu Lys Ala Ile Arg Thr Ser 545 550 29 782 PRT Bacillus halodurans 29 Met Asn Lys Arg Leu Lys Arg Trp Ser Ala Ile Met Ser Ile Val Leu 1 5 10 15 Leu Val Asn Leu Leu Val Pro Val Gly Thr Phe Ala Asp Thr Asp Glu 20 25 30 Glu Glu Lys Val Asp Ile Ile Val Thr Tyr Lys Asp Val Val Ser Glu 35 40 45 Ser Pro Asp Ser Arg Leu Ser Val Tyr Glu Asn Glu Gln Thr Met Lys 50 55 60 Thr Leu Pro Ile Lys Thr Met Thr Val Pro Val Ser Glu Val Glu Arg 65 70 75 80 Leu Lys Glu Asp Pro Asn Val Val Ser Val Ser Leu Asp Gln Pro Leu 85 90 95 Gln Leu Met Ser Asp Thr Arg Glu Leu Gly Glu His Asp Trp Asn Asn 100 105 110 Asp Met Val Lys Ala Phe Asp Ala Trp Asp Asp Gly Tyr Thr Gly Lys 115 120 125 Gly Val Lys Val Ala Val Phe Asp Thr Gly Phe Asp Gly His Gln Asp 130 135 140 Ile Thr Tyr Ala Gly Gly His Ser Val Phe Glu Gly Glu Pro Tyr Thr 145 150 155 160 His Asp His His Gly His Gly Thr His Val Ala Gly Ile Ile Ala Gly 165 170 175 Ala Arg Glu Gly Thr Leu His Gln Gly Ile Ala Pro Asp Val Gln Leu 180 185 190 Tyr Gly Val Lys Val Phe Ser Gln Glu Lys Gly Gly Asn Thr Ser Asp 195 200 205 Leu Ile Ala Gly Ile Asp Trp Ala Ile Gln Glu Gly Met Asp Ile Ile 210 215 220 Asn Met Ser Leu Gly Tyr Thr Asn Glu Val Pro Ala Val His Thr Ala 225 230 235 240 Ile Lys Gln Ala Val Ala Gln Glu Ile Leu Val Val Ala Ala Ser Gly 245 250 255 Asn Gly Gly Lys Ala Asp Gly Ser Gly Glu Thr Ile Glu Tyr Pro Ala 260 265 270 Lys Tyr Asp Glu Val Ile Ala Val Ala Ser Val Asp Lys Glu Met Lys 275 280 285 Arg Thr Asn Thr Ser Ala Thr Gly Val Glu Asn Glu Leu Ala Ala Pro 290 295 300 Gly His Leu Ile Gly Gly Leu Ala Pro Gly Asn Lys Tyr Val Phe Met 305 310 315 320 Ser Gly Thr Ser Gln Ala Thr Pro His Val Thr Ser Leu Ala Ala Ile 325 330 335 Ile Met Gly Lys His Pro Glu Leu Ser Ser Gln Gln Ile Arg Ala Leu 340 345 350 Leu Val Glu Gln Ser Leu Asp Leu Gly Ser Glu Gly His Asp Arg Leu 355 360 365 Tyr Gly Tyr Gly Leu Ala Gln Tyr Val Ser Ser Thr Pro Pro Asp Glu 370 375 380 Glu Glu Asn Glu Glu Ser Pro Ala Glu Asn Pro Gln Glu Gln Pro Ser 385 390 395 400 Asp Gly Lys Glu Asn Glu Gly Ser Glu Asp Gln Gly Ser Thr Pro Pro 405 410 415 Asp Glu Glu Glu Asn Glu Glu Ser Pro Ala Glu Asp Pro Gln Glu Gln 420 425 430 Pro Ser Asp Gly Lys Glu Asn Lys Gly Ser Glu Asn Gln Gly Ser Thr 435 440 445 Pro Pro Asp Glu Glu Glu Asn Glu Glu Ser Pro Ala Glu Val Pro Gln 450 455 460 Glu Gln Pro Ser Asp Gly Lys Glu Asn Glu Gly Ser Glu Asp Gln Gly 465 470 475 480 Ser Thr Pro Pro Asp Glu Glu Glu Asn Glu Glu Ser Pro Ala Glu Asp 485 490 495 Pro Gln Glu Gln Pro Ser Asp Lys Glu Asn Glu Glu Ser Lys Asn Pro 500 505 510 Asp Ser Ala Pro Pro Ala Gly Glu Lys Lys Glu Gly Lys Gln Thr Ala 515 520 525 Arg Val Gln Val Lys Pro Val Asn Leu Gly Gly Val Ala Ile Val Ser 530 535 540 Asn Ala Asp Val Ala Ser Val Leu Asp Asn Asn Gly Thr Leu Val Val 545 550 555 560 Phe Phe Asp Ser Ala Leu Asp Asp Leu Thr Arg Leu Ala Leu Thr Ala 565 570 575 Asp Gln Val Lys Glu Leu Lys Asp Arg Gly Ile Thr Leu Val Ile Ala 580 585 590 Lys His Asp Glu Leu Val Ile Pro His Gly Val Phe Lys Ala Gly Asp 595 600 605 Val Val Ile Glu Phe Glu Arg Val Val Gly Lys Gly Ile Pro Tyr Ala 610 615 620 Gly Gln Ala Lys Ser Thr Val Tyr Gln Phe Lys Ile Ile Gln Asn Gly 625 630 635 640 Gln Gln Val Arg His Phe Asp Glu Glu Ile Glu Met Gly Phe Arg Val 645 650 655 Asp Gln Glu Lys Asn Val Asn Asn Leu Lys Ile Tyr Tyr Trp Asn Glu 660 665 670 Ser Leu Asn Glu Trp Glu Lys Ile Gly Gly Asn Tyr Gln Glu Gly Phe 675 680 685 Ile Val Ala Arg Thr Asn Phe Glu Glu Thr Lys Ser Gly Thr Pro Ile 690 695 700 Ser Gly Gly Lys Thr Asn Gly Asn Ser Thr Thr Glu Gly Thr Thr Asn 705 710 715 720 Arg Gly Thr Ser Lys Asn Gly Thr Gly Ser Glu Pro Gln Ala Glu Glu 725 730 735 Ser Asn Asn Glu Gln Asn Asn Lys Asp Gly Thr Leu Pro Lys Thr Ala 740 745 750 Thr Asn Leu Tyr Asn Ser Leu Ala Ile Gly Ala Leu Leu Leu Leu Ile 755 760 765 Gly Phe Val Leu Leu Arg Lys Ser Lys Arg Arg Ile Val Glu 770 775 780 30 100 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 30 agaggatccc cgggtaccgg tagaaaaaat gagtaaagga gaagaacttt tcactggagt 60 tgtcccaatt cttgttgaat tagatggtga tgttaatggg 100 31 60 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 31 cacaaatttt ctgtcagtgg agagggtgaa ggtgatgcaa catacggaaa acttaccctt 60 32 60 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 32 aaatttattt gcactactgg aaaactaccg gttccatggc caacacttgt cactactttc 60 33 100 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 33 tcttatggtg ttcaatgctt ttcaagatac ccagatcata tgaaacggca tgactttttc 60 aagagtgcca tgcccgaagg ttatgtacag gaaagaacta 100 34 20 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 34 agaggatccc cgggtaccgg 20 35 20 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 35 aagggtaagt tttccgtatg 20 36 20 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 36 gaaagtagtg acaagtgttg 20 37 20 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 37 tagttctttc ctgtacataa 20 38 100 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 38 agaggatccc cgggtaccgg tagaaaaaat gaggtcttcc aagaatgtta tcaaggagtt 60 catgaggttt aaggttcgca tggaaggaac ggtcaatggg 100 39 60 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 39 cacgagtttg aaatagaagg cgaaggagag gggaggccat acgaaggcca caataccgta 60 40 63 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 40 aagcttaagg taaccaaggg gggacctttg ccatttgctt gggatatttt gtcaccacaa 60 ttt 63 41 93 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 41 cagtatggaa gcaaggtata tgtcaagcac cctgccgaca taccagacta taaaaagctg 60 tcatttcctg aaggatttgt acaggaaagg gtc 93 42 18 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 42 tacggtattg tggccttc 18 43 21 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 43 aaattgtggt gacaaaatat c 21 44 20 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 44 gaccctttcc tgtacaaatc 20 45 60 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 45 atgatgagga aaaagagtyt ttggtttggg atgttgacgg ccyttatgct cgtgttcacg 60 46 60 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 46 atggmgttca gcgattccgc ttctgctgct caaccggsga aaaatgttga aaaggattat 60 47 60 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 47 wttgtcggat ttaagtcagg agtgaaaacc gcatctgtca aaaaggacat catcaaagag 60 48 60 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 48 agcggcggaa aagtggacaa gcagtttaga atcatcaacg cggsaaaagc gacgctagac 60 49 60 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 49 aaagaagcgc ttraggaagt caaaaatgat ccggatgtcg cttatgtgga agaggatcat 60 50 60 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 50 gtggsacatg bgttggsaca aaccgttcct tacggcattc ctctcattaa agcggacaaa 60 51 60 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 51 gtgcaggctc aaggctwtaa gggagcgaat gtaaaagtag ccgtcctgga tacaggaatc 60 52 60 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 52 caagcttctc atccggactt gaacgtagtc ggcggagcaa gctttgtggc tggcgaagct 60 53 60 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 53 tataacaccg acggcaacgg acacggcaca catgttgccg gtacagtagc tgcgcttgac 60 54 60 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 54 aatacaacgg gtgtattagg cgttgcgcca artgtatcct tgawtgcggt taaagtactg 60 55 60 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 55 aattcaagcg gaagcggaas ttacagcgsa attgtaagcg gaatcgagtg ggygacaaca 60 56 60 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 56 amtggcatgg atgttatcaa tatgagcctt gggggascat cagkgtcgac agcgatgaaa 60 57 60 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 57 caggcagtcg acmatgcata tkctargggg gytgtcsytg takctkctgc agggaacagc 60 58 60 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 58 ggatcttcag gawatacgaa tacaattggc tatcctgcga aatrtgattc tgtcatcscg 60 59 60 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 59 gttggtgsgg wggactctaa cagcaacaga kcgtcatttt ccagtgtggg agcagagctt 60 60 60 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 60 gaagtcatgg ctcctgkgkc gggcgtatac agcacttacc caacgartac ttatrcgaca 60 61 60 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 61 ttgaacggaa cgtcaatggc ttctcctcat gtagcgggar cgkcggcttt gatcttgtca 60 62 60 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 62 aaacatccga acctttcagc ttcacaagtc cgcamtcgtc tctccagkac ggcgacttat 60 63 60 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 63 ttgggaagct ccttctmtta tgggargggt ctgatcaatg tcgaagctgc cgctcaataa 60 64 57 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 64 atgagaggca aaaaagtatg gatcagtttg ctgtttgctt tagcgttaat ctttacg 57 65 39 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 65 atgatcagtt tgctgtttgc tttagcgtta atctttacg 39 66 63 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 66 atggcgttcg gcagcacatc ctctgcccag gcggcaggga aatcaaacgg ggaaaagaaa 60 tat 63 67 66 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 67 attgtcgggt ttaaacagac aatgagcacg atgagcgccg ctaagaagaa agatgtcatt 60 tctgaa 66 68 60 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 68 aaaggcggga aagtgcaaaa gcaattcaaa tatgtagacg cagcttcagc tacattaaac 60 69 57 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 69 gaaaaagctg taaaagaatt gaaaaaagac ccgagcgtcg cttacgttga agaagat 57 70 63 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 70 cacgtagcac atgcgtacgc gcagtccgtg ccttacggcg tatcacaaat taaagcccct 60 gct 63 71 60 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 71 ctgcactctc aaggctacws tggatcaaat gttaaagtag cggttatcga cagcggtatc 60 72 60 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 72 gattcttctc atcctgattt aaaggtagca ggcggagcca gcwtkgttcc ttctgaaaca 60 73 63 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 73 aatcctttcc aagacaacaa ctctcacgga actcacgttg ccggcacagt tgcggctctt 60 aat 63 74 60 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 74 aatcctttcc aagacaacaa ctctcacgga actcacgttg ccggcacagt tgcggctgtt 60 75 60 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 75 aactcaatcg gtgtattagg cgttgcgcca wgtgcatcac tttacgctgt aaaagttctc 60 76 36 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 76 gcgccatcag catcacttta cgctgtaaaa gttctc 36 77 60 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 77 ggtgctgacg gttccggcca atacagctgg atcattaacg gaatcgagtg ggcgatcgca 60 78 60 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 78 aacaatatgg acgttattaa catgagcctc ggcggacctt ctggttctgc tgctttaaaa 60 79 60 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 79 gcggcagttg ataaagccgt tgcatccggc gtcgtagtcg ttgcggcagc cggtaacgaa 60 80 60 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 80 ggcacttccg gcagctcaag cacagtgggc taccctgsga aatacccttc tgtcattgca 60 81 60 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 81 gtaggcgctg ttgacagcag caaccaaaga gcatctttct caagcgtagg acctgagctt 60 82 60 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 82 gatgtcatgg cacctggcgt atctatcyrk agcacgcttc ctggaaacaa atacggggcg 60 83 60 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 83 wakartggta cgtcaatggc atctccgcac gttgccggag cggctgcttt gattctttct 60 84 60 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 84 aagcacccga actggacaaa cactcaagtc cgcagcagtt tagaaaacac cactacaaaa 60 85 60 DNA Artificial Novel Sequence 85 cttggtgatt ctttctacta tggaaaaggg ctgatcaacg tacaggcggc agctcagtaa 60 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of preparing a polynucleotide having a target sequence from a plurality of oligonucleotides, said method comprising: (a) coupling said oligonucleotides to form a plurality of coupled oligonucleotides, wherein each of said coupled oligonucleotides represents a region of said polynucleotide and shares at least one terminal region of sequence with at least one other coupled oligonucleotide; and (b) assembling said polynucleotide by extension of said coupled oligonucleotides.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said coupling comprises ligating said oligonucleotides with ligase.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein said ligase is T4 RNA ligase.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of said oligonucleotides of said coupled oligonucleotides is attached to solid support prior to coupling.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein said coupled oligonucleotides are attached to solid support.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein each of said coupled oligonucleotides is amplified prior to assembling said polynucleotide.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of said oligonucleotides of said coupled oligonucleotides is blocked at one end prior to said coupling.
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein said coupled oligonucleotides comprise pairs of oligonucleotides.
 9. The method of claim 1 wherein said extension is carried out using overlap PCR.
 10. A library of polynucleotides prepared by the method of claim
 1. 11. A method of preparing a polynucleotide having a target sequence from a plurality of oligonucleotides, said method comprising: (a) blocking the 3′ end of each of said oligonucleotides, except for the oligonucleotide comprising the 5′ terminus of said polynucleotide, with a blocking group to form a plurality of blocked oligonucleotides; (b) coupling the 5′ end of each of said blocked oligonucleotides with the 3′ end of a further oligonucleotide of said plurality of oligonucleotides to form a plurality of coupled oligonucleotides, wherein said further oligonucleotide comprises a portion of said polynucleotide immediately 5′ to the sequence of said blocked oligonucleotide, wherein each of said coupled oligonucleotides shares at least one oligonucleotide with another coupled oligonucleotide; and (c) assembling said polynucleotide by extension of said coupled oligonucleotides.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein said polynucleotide is DNA, RNA, or DNA/RNA hybrid.
 13. The method of claim 11 wherein said oligonucleotides comprise from about 10 to about 200 nucleotides.
 14. The method of claim 11 wherein said blocking group comprises solid support.
 15. The method of claim 14 wherein said solid support is selected from the group consisting of agarose, polyacrylamide, magnetic beads, polystyrene, polyacrylate, controlled-pore glass, hydroxyethylmethacrylate, polyamide, polyethylene, polyethyleneoxy, and polyethyleneoxy/polystyrene copolymer.
 16. The method of claim 11 wherein said blocking group is ddUTP-biotin.
 17. The method of claim 11 wherein said coupling is carried out using ligase.
 18. The method of claim 17 wherein said ligase is T4 RNA ligase.
 19. The method of claim 17 wherein said coupling comprises the steps of contacting said blocked oligonucleotide with ligase and cosubstrate to form activated oligonucleotide, washing said activated oligonucleotide to form washed oligonucleotide, and contacting said washed oligonucleotide with said further oligonucleotide and ligase.
 20. The method of claim 11 wherein said coupled oligonucleotides are amplified prior to assembling said polynucleotide.
 21. The method of claim 11 wherein said extension is carried out using overlap PCR.
 22. A library of polynucleotides prepared by the method of claim
 11. 23. A method of coupling a first oligonucleotide with a further oligonucleotide, wherein said first oligonucleotide is attached to solid support, comprising contacting said first oligonucleotide with ligase and cosubstrate to form activated oligonucleotide, washing said activated oligonucleotide to form washed oligonucleotide, and contacting said washed oligonucleotide with said further oligonucleotide and ligase.
 24. The method of claim 23 wherein said ligase is T4 RNA ligase.
 25. The method of claim 23 wherein said cosubstrate is ATP.
 26. A method of preparing a library of polynucleotides having a plurality of target sequences from a plurality of oligonucleotides, wherein each of said polynucleotides shares a plurality of predetermined sequence positions occupied by said oligonucleotides, and wherein each of said polynucleotides comprises a different oligonucleotide in at least one predetermined sequence position, said method comprising: (a) coupling said oligonucleotides to form a plurality of coupled oligonucleotides, wherein each of said coupled oligonucleotides represents a region of at least one of said polynucleotides and shares at least one terminal region of sequence with at least one other coupled oligonucleotide; and (b) assembling said library of polynucleotides by extension of said coupled oligonucleotides.
 27. The method of claim 26 wherein said coupling comprises ligating said oligonucleotides with ligase.
 28. The method of claim 27 wherein said ligase is T4 RNA ligase.
 29. The method of claim 26 wherein at least one of said oligonucleotides of said coupled oligonucleotides is attached to solid support prior to coupling.
 30. The method of claim 26 wherein said coupled oligonucleotides are attached to solid support.
 31. The method of claim 26 wherein each of said coupled oligonucleotides is amplified prior to assembling said polynucleotide.
 32. The method of claim 26 wherein at least one of said oligonucleotides of said coupled oligonucleotides is blocked at one end prior to said coupling.
 33. The method of claim 26 wherein said coupled oligonucleotides comprise pairs of oligonucleotides.
 34. The method of claim 26 wherein said extension is carried out using overlap PCR.
 35. The method of claim 26 wherein said plurality of oligonucleotides is derived from a parent set of polynucleotides having at least one common property.
 36. The method of claim 35 wherein said common property is sequence homology.
 37. The method of claim 35 wherein said common property is enzyme activity.
 38. The method of claim 35 wherein said common property is ligand binding.
 39. The method of claim 35 wherein said set of polynucleotides is optimized.
 40. A method of preparing a library of polynucleotides having a plurality of target sequences from a plurality of oligonucleotides, wherein each of said polynucleotides shares a plurality of predetermined sequence positions occupied by said oligonucleotides, and wherein each of said polynucleotides comprises a different oligonucleotide in at least one predetermined sequence position, said method comprising: (a) blocking the 3′ end of each of said oligonucleotides, except for the oligonucleotide comprising the 5′ terminus of each of said polynucleotides, with a blocking group to form a plurality of blocked oligonucleotides; (b) coupling the 5′ end of each of said blocked oligonucleotides with the 3′ end of a further oligonucleotide of said plurality of oligonucleotides to form a plurality of coupled oligonucleotides, wherein said further oligonucleotide comprises a portion of at least one of said polynucleotides immediately 5′ to said sequence of said blocked oligonucleotide, and wherein each of said coupled oligonucleotides shares at least one oligonucleotide with another coupled oligonucleotide; and (c) assembling said library of polynucleotides by extension of said coupled oligonucleotides.
 41. The method of claim 40 wherein said polynucleotide is DNA, RNA, or DNA/RNA hybrid.
 42. The method of claim 40 wherein said oligonucleotides comprise from about 10 to about 200 nucleotides.
 43. The method of claim 40 wherein said blocking group comprises solid support.
 44. The method of claim 43 wherein said solid support is selected from the group consisting of agarose, polyacrylamide, magnetic beads, polystyrene, polyacrylate, controlled-pore glass, hydroxyethylmethacrylate, polyamide, polyethylene, polyethyleneoxy, and polyethyleneoxy/polystyrene copolymer.
 45. The method of claim 40 wherein said blocking group is ddUTP-biotin.
 46. The method of claim 40 wherein said coupling is carried out using ligase.
 47. The method of claim 46 wherein said ligase is T4 RNA ligase.
 48. The method of claim 40 wherein said plurality of oligonucleotides is derived from a parent set of polynucleotides having at least one common property.
 49. The method of claim 48 wherein said common property is sequence homology.
 50. The method of claim 48 wherein said common property is enzyme activity.
 51. The method of claim 48 wherein said common property is ligand binding.
 52. The method of claim 48 wherein said set of polynucleotides is optimized.
 53. A method of identifying a polynucleotide with a predetermined property, said method comprising, generating a library of polynucleotides according to the method of claim 26, and selecting at least one polynucleotide within said library having said predetermined property.
 54. A method of identifying a polynucleotide with a predetermined property, said method comprising, generating a library of polynucleotides according to the method of claim 40, and selecting at least one polynucleotide within said library having said predetermined property.
 55. A method of identifying a polynucleotide with a predetermined property, comprising: (a) generating a library of polynucleotides according to the method of claim 26; (b) selecting at least one polynucleotide within said library having said predetermined property; and (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) wherein at least one oligonucleotide of said selected polynucleotides is preferentially incorporated into said library.
 56. A method of identifying a polynucleotide with a predetermined property, comprising: (a) generating a library of polynucleotides according to the method of claim 40; (b) selecting at least one polynucleotide within said library having said predetermined property; and (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) wherein at least one oligonucleotide of said selected polynucleotides is preferentially incorporated into said library. 